(MCT) ORLAND PARK, Ill.—“Bite me.” It’s a request British actor Robert Pattinson gets almost daily as the star of the new vampire film “Twilight.”

“It’s crazy,” he said, waiting inside the Hot Topic store in the Orland Square shopping center.

More than 500 fans waited outside to ask him the same question or something similar. One fan wore a self-made T-shirt that read “Edward Cullen Make Me Immortal.”

As the clock approached 6 p.m., the time Pattinson would start signing autographs, the crowd started screaming. But mostly people just filed in peacefully, gushing and smiling, but for the public Q&A session later the crowd seemed to have swelled to a frenzied mass.

“Twilight” the movie, opening today, is based on author Stephenie Meyer’s teen vampire book quartet, which has sold more than 17 million copies. The story revolves around high schooler Bella Swan and the object of her desire, Edward Cullen—who just happens to be a vampire.

“Jane Austen meets Bram Stoker,” one reviewer said.

Meyer is a mother of three and a practicing Mormon whose faith finds its way into the series. There’s passion, but no sex before marriage.

Director Catherine Hardwicke is well-practiced on the theme of teen love—previous credits include “Thirteen” and “The Lords of Dogtown.” And the soundtrack for “Twilight,” including songs by Linkin Park, debuted on top of the Billboard 200, the third No. 1 soundtrack this year after “Juno” and “Mamma Mia!”

Pattinson said he had signed on to play Edward for three films—if they are all made. He said there is no plan to shoot sequels “New Moon” and “Eclipse” back-to-back to keep the illusion of Pattinson as an ageless vampire.

“I don’t think they can, because the weather has to be so specific,” he said.

But a sequel may get the green light this month, he said.

“They will literally decide the next day or the day after [this movie opens],” Pattinson said. “I think they only have plans to do the second one. There’s no script for the third one. The script is already done for the second one.”

Pattinson also talked about why 108-year-old Edward Cullen—the Chicago-born vampire he plays in the film—is attracted to teenage beauty Bella Swan.

“Initially, it’s just the smell of her blood,” he said. “She has a weird blood type. And he stopped killing people 50, 60 years ago. She breaks down all his discipline immediately. So, he starts testing himself. And he starts to fall for her.”

In the book, Edward is represented as the ideal man. How difficult was it for Pattinson to play a perfect character?

“I just kind of ignored it,” he said. “I just tried to concentrate on his flaws. I can do the flaws and forget about the rest.”

© 2008 Chicago Tribune