Kristen Stewart cheating scandal: Director Bill Condon comments

By Matt Donnelly

Aug. 8, 2012 12 AM PT

Director Bill Condon had the task of capturing Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in their most intimate incarnations as Edward Cullen and Bella Swan in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.”

Now Condon is piping up about the grenade tossed into their very intimate real-life relationship, Stewart’s cheating scandal and how it will affect the release of the final film.

“The fact is, these are actors playing parts, and maybe it’s not such a bad thing that people be reminded of that,” Condon says in Entertainment Weekly’s fall movie preview.

“Above all they have always shown great respect for the fans who made these movies such a success. Now it’s time that some of that respect be returned to them,” he added. Read the full statement here.

PHOTOS: KStew and RPattz through the years

The fans in question will get the last adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s hit books on Nov. 16, in theaters nationwide. “Twilight” premieres have historically been global affairs with a ton of fan -- and cast -- interaction.

The wrench in the “Breaking Dawn -- Part 2” machine is of course Stewart and her married “Snow White and the Huntsman”director Rupert Sanders, whose cheating scandal erupted across fan communities and the entertainment industry in July.

The indiscretion was immediately followed by admissions of guilt and apologies from the offending parties. Pattinson subsequently dropped off the radar, taking sanctuary for a time at “Water for Elephants” costar Reese Witherspoon’s ranch in Ojai.

Back in camp Sanders, the director’s wife Liberty Ross saw her husband as recently as Monday for lunch in Beverly Hills, though she hasn’t been wearing her wedding ring.

Do you think the Stewart-Sanders cheating scandal will affect the final film? Tell us in comments.

Where in the world is Robert Pattinson? Perhaps not far from home

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