'Twilight' And 'Priest' Only Have Vampires In Common, Cam Gigandet Says

'Twilight' And 'Priest' Only Have Vampires In Common, Cam Gigandet Says
'It's not like a 'vampire film'; there's so much more to it,' 'Priest' co-star Karl Urban tells MTV News at Comic-Con.

Ever since he lit up the screen as delightfully devious "Twilight" villain James, Cam Gigandet's career has been on the rise. When MTV News caught up with him during Comic-Con on Friday (July 23), we asked about his character in the upcoming "Priest" — which is based on the celebrated comic book series — and, since the film coincidentally involves vampires, if he had any hesitation in taking on the part.

"I play Sheriff Hicks," he said. "I'm the sheriff of a small town where my girlfriend gets kidnapped by this pack of vampires, so I enlist Paul Bettany's, Priest's, help, and we are on the road to find and rescue her."

Gigandet said that, although there are vampires involved in the movie, fans expecting the romantic "Twilight"-style vamps will be in for a shock.

"It's very, very different from 'Twilight,' " he said. "The similarities kind of end with what they're called, which is vampires."

Gigandet said the world of "Priest," directed by Scott Charles Stewart, is also entirely different. "The world Scott created is kind of unlike any other," he said. "Sometimes it was hard to visualize what he had in his mind, but I've seen clips, and its unbelievable. ... Just to work with all of these people, they're such an amazing cast. I didn't have any doubts [about taking on another vampire-related role]."

Gigandet's co-star, "Star Trek" star Karl Urban, said he's never seen a movie like this. "This is a post-apocalyptic vampire western," he said. "The emphasis isn't heavily on the fact — it's not like a 'vampire film'; there's so much more to it."

As far as what "Twilight" fans can expect to see, and fans of the original comic book, Gigandet and his co-stars said there is something for everyone in the film, because it is emotional and character-driven.

"[There are] so many different levels, and so many people are doing things that sacrifice for all sorts of love," Gigandet said. "It's not just one set love story. There are so many different levels going on."

"Priest" is set to open in May 2011.