Robert Pattinson readies fans for "Twilight" sequel

Actor Robert Pattinson at the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - For "Twilight" movie fans who are anxiously awaiting the sequel but haven't read the second book in the vampire series, "New Moon," the film's star Robert Pattinson offers this advice -- be ready for something different and perhaps a little strange.

Pattinson became an overnight sensation playing a lovestruck vampire in the smash hit that sucked $373.4 million from global box offices, and he is in Vancouver, Canada, this week starting production on the film version of "New Moon."

Before that sequel lands in theaters in November, Pattinson plays eccentric painter Salvador Dali in "Little Ashes," which opens in art houses May 8 and tells of a homosexual love affair between Dali and the poet Federico Garcia Lorca.

But for now his turn as immortal vampire Edward Cullen, who falls in love with high school girl Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) in "Twilight," has catapulted him to fame and his fans are dying for details on "New Moon."

Pattinson, for one, is cautious.

"The book of 'New Moon,' the majority of it is incredibly depressing," Pattinson told Reuters. "Obviously 'Twilight' was about finding first love and the difficulties of that, but 'New Moon' is really about loss and reconciliation, but the reconciliation isn't completely full."

"It's a strange story to have for a market that, I guess, wants to see a love story," he said.

Nevertheless, the London-born Pattinson said everyone involved is working to make "New Moon" as big a success as "Twilight."

Pattinson's rising star has turned the former model into a favorite target of the paparazzi. Only last year, he was a relatively unknown actor whose big film credits were supporting roles in a pair of "Harry Potter" movies.

"It's turned into this crazy situation. I guess it has become a sort of phenomenon now which I really, really didn't expect," Pattinson said.

So, he often escapes to one of his first loves, music. He plays guitar and piano, and his song "Never Think" made it onto the "Twilight" soundtrack.

For now, he said there are no plans to put his music on "New Moon," but he has become "obsessed" with composing songs.

He said his acting hero is Oscar winner Jack Nicholson, and his ideal job would be something out of the spotlight.

"I like any job where you can just shut yourself away from everybody," he said.

"New Moon," from director Chris Weitz, is scheduled to open in theatres on November 20.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)