Kristen Stewart makes shock career move after teasing plans to flee U.S. over Trump’s threats against Hollywood

Kristen Stewart is shaking things up with a new career path, following her recent comments about potentially leaving the United States due to worries about how the film industry is changing under Donald Trump’s presidency.

The Academy Award-nominated actress and director has bought the historic Highland Theatre in Los Angeles’ Highland Park. She plans to bring the nearly 100-year-old movie theater back to life after it closed its doors last year.

Stewart recently told Architectural Digest that he hadn’t been actively searching for a theater, but when he discovered this particular building, he knew he had to have it. He described feeling an immediate sense of urgency and pursuing it wholeheartedly. He’s always been drawn to old, neglected theaters and the stories they might contain.

The Highland Theatre first opened its doors in 1925 and was designed by architect Lewis Arthur Smith.

Even though the Highland had a rich history, it unfortunately closed its doors, becoming one of the many theaters in Los Angeles that didn’t survive after the pandemic.

Dan Akarakian, the previous owner, told the Los Angeles Times on March 1, 2024, that the three-screen movie theater closed because it never regained the number of customers it had before 2020.

For Stewart, the acquisition represents far more than a real estate purchase.

She said the upcoming renovations would turn the space into a gathering place for both filmmakers and moviegoers.

I’m so excited about this new project – we’re building a school and completely rethinking how things are done, aiming for a real step forward. What I truly envision is a community hub, a place for everyone – not just film buffs! Honestly, I see this as a breath of fresh air, a welcome change from all the commercialism that’s taken over movie culture. I believe people are really hungry for a space like this, a place that celebrates film in a genuine and meaningful way.

The actress, originally from the San Fernando Valley, explained that bringing back the theater’s original features is a key part of what she hopes to achieve.

Stewart explained that the building has many lovely original features worth saving. The goal is to restore it respectfully, honoring its past while also revitalizing the area and offering something fresh for Los Angeles’s filmmaking scene. Ultimately, it’s about introducing innovative concepts and approaches.

Throughout interviews for her first feature film, The Chronology of Water, she consistently spoke about her vision for the future of Hollywood. The film is based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir, which powerfully details a difficult childhood marked by abuse and struggles with addiction.

Stewart told Architectural Digest that we need to move beyond superficial diversity and truly innovate. He believes we can’t keep repeating the same patterns, and we must prioritize supporting those who need it most.

Stewart is now part of a small, but increasing number of filmmakers dedicated to protecting and celebrating Los Angeles’ film history and traditions.

This includes Quentin Tarantino, who owns both the New Beverly Cinema and the Vista Theatre.

Stewart’s recent purchase of a theater follows closely after they publicly expressed concerns about continuing their career in the American film industry.

In a recent interview, the Twilight star explained she doesn’t plan to stay in America, pointing to the language and policies of Donald Trump that she believes target the entertainment industry.

Last year, Donald Trump proposed a 100% tax on all movies not made in the U.S., claiming they posed a threat to national security. This proposal was surprising, considering that both big-budget and smaller independent films often film scenes abroad.

Stewart strongly criticized the proposal, calling it frightening, and stated it might compel her to relocate overseas to keep working on films.

When asked if she intended to remain in the United States, she said she likely wouldn’t, explaining that she wasn’t able to work there without restrictions.

Despite stepping back from consistently working in the US, she emphasized she still wants to share her films with American viewers. She jokingly said she plans to continue making movies in Europe and then ‘force’ them on American audiences.

Looking back, my history with Donald Trump is… complicated, to say the least. It actually goes way back to 2012, a really tough time for me. When my breakup with Robert Pattinson became public – following the scandal with Rupert Sanders, the director I worked with on ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ – Mr. Trump surprisingly launched a series of very public criticisms against me. It was a bizarre and frankly hurtful experience, and it’s something I still remember vividly.

Before entering politics, Donald Trump publicly criticized Kristen Stewart’s personal life on X (formerly Twitter). He posted, among other things, ‘Robert Pattinson shouldn’t get back with Kristen Stewart. She was unfaithful to him, and she’ll do it again—you’ll see. He deserves someone better!’

He followed up with a flurry of similar messages over the span of weeks.

Stewart later told Variety, while at the Sundance Film Festival on Inauguration Day, that the experience felt incredibly surreal.

She said he was really fixated on her a couple of years back, and she just couldn’t wrap her head around it. She found it completely unbelievable and a little frightening.

She later poked fun at the bizarre chapter while hosting Saturday Night Live in February 2017.

2026-02-05 02:19

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