He just stands there.
Well, not "just" stands there. Vladimir, half of the ancient Romanian duo in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, basically radiates a level of petty that most of us can only dream of achieving. If you’ve only seen the movies, you might think he’s just a creepy guy with "powder skin" who wants to see some Italian vampires explode.
But honestly? There is so much more to him.
The first time Vladimir and his coven-mate Stefan show up at the Cullen house, the vibe shifts instantly. They aren't there to save a child. They don't care about Renesmee’s heart rate or whether she’s "immortal." They are there for one reason: to watch the Volturi burn.
Why Vladimir is the ultimate "Anti-Hero" of the Twilight world
You've probably noticed that the Cullens are big on the whole "vegetarian" thing. They’re the "good guys." Then you have the Volturi, who are basically the supernatural police—corrupt, sure, but they keep the secret.
Vladimir? Vladimir doesn't fit into either box.
He’s a relic. Along with Stefan, he is the last of the Romanian coven, a group that ruled the vampire world for a thousand years before the Volturi even existed. They didn't hide. They didn't have "laws." They sat on thrones in massive castles and let humans worship—and feed—them.
When Noel Fisher (who you definitely recognize as Mickey Milkovich from Shameless) took the role, he brought this weird, twitchy energy to a character that could have been very boring. In the books, Stephenie Meyer describes Vladimir as having skin that looks like it’s covered in literal dust because he’s sat still for so long.
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That’s a level of ancient we don't really see with Edward or even Carlisle.
The "Dracula" Connection and the 1500-Year Grudge
Jacob Black jokingly calls them "Dracula One and Two." It’s a funny line, but it’s actually grounded in the lore.
Vladimir and Stefan are the "original" vampire royalty. Their reign was brutal. They used slave labor and demanded human sacrifices. When the Volturi overthrew them around 1500 years ago, it wasn't because the Volturi were "better" people—it was because the Volturi were smarter.
The Romanians relied on brute strength.
Aro, the creepy leader of the Volturi, realized that "special gifts" (like Alice seeing the future or Jane causing pain) were way more effective than just having big muscles. He used those gifts to decimate the Romanian coven.
Vladimir lost everything. His home, his power, and his mate.
Vampires in this universe don't "get over" things. They don't move on. They just simmer. For over a millennium, Vladimir has been wandering the world, waiting for the Volturi to slip up.
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What happened during the "Battle" in Breaking Dawn Part 2?
In the movie, we get that massive, heart-stopping fight scene. You know the one—where Carlisle gets his head popped off and everyone in the theater screamed?
In that sequence, we see Vladimir in Breaking Dawn Part 2 finally getting his hands dirty. He’s fast. He’s ruthless. He and Stefan move in total sync, which makes sense since they’ve been the only two people in each other's lives for centuries.
But here is the catch: that fight was just a vision.
In the actual reality of the story, the fight never happens. The Volturi see Alice’s vision, realize they’re going to lose, and they tuck tail and run.
Vladimir is furious.
He didn't come to Forks to witness a peaceful resolution. He came for a massacre. There’s a great moment where he and Stefan are basically the only ones disappointed that everyone survived. They wanted the "Italian scum" dead, regardless of the cost.
The difference between the book and the movie
If you’re a fan of the books, you know the movie did Vladimir a bit of a favor by giving him that fight scene, even if it was just a "what if" scenario.
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In the Breaking Dawn novel:
- Vladimir and Stefan are much more talkative.
- They explain that their skin is "powdery" because they literally didn't move for centuries while they were kings.
- They openly mock the Volturi for pretending to be "saints" or protectors of the law.
One of the most biting things Vladimir says is that the Volturi didn't create their laws to protect vampires; they created them to protect their own power. It’s a nuanced take on the "villains" of the series. Vladimir is basically saying, "We were honest about being monsters. They’re just liars."
Why Noel Fisher was the perfect choice
Casting is everything. Fisher has this way of looking both 17 and 3,000 years old at the same time.
He didn't play Vladimir as a stoic, brooding elder. He played him as a guy who is perpetually bored and slightly vibrating with the urge to kill something. It added a layer of dark comedy to a movie that was otherwise very heavy on the "power of love" themes.
He and Guri Weinberg (who played Stefan) actually became fan favorites on social media during the filming because they leaned into the "grumpy old men" dynamic of the characters.
Actionable Insights for Twilight Fans
If you're revisiting the series or diving into the lore for the first time, here is how to actually "get" the Romanian perspective:
- Watch the eyes: Unlike the Cullens (gold) or the Volturi (cloudy red), Vladimir and Stefan have dark, deep burgundy eyes. This is because they aren't "stationary" like the Volturi elders. They move, they hunt, and they are constantly on the run from Demetri, the Volturi's best tracker.
- Look for the "Witch Twin" obsession: Vladimir is particularly obsessed with Jane and Alec. He calls them the "witch twins." He knows that without them, the Volturi have no real power. If you re-watch the confrontation, notice how he's always tracking where they are on the field.
- The "Post-Breaking Dawn" life: Ever wonder what happened to him after the credits rolled? According to the Illustrated Guide, they went back into hiding. They didn't join the Cullens. They didn't become "good." They’re still out there, probably in some cave or old ruins, waiting for the next time someone challenges Aro.
Vladimir serves as a reminder that the world of Twilight is a lot bigger—and bloodier—than just a high school romance in Washington. He’s the ghost of a much more violent era.
If you want to dive deeper into the Romanian history, check out the Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. It actually details the specific battles where the Romanians tried to take back their power in the 800s AD, which explains exactly why Vladimir is so bitter in the final film.