Back in October of 2007, when Robert Pattinson signed on to play Salvador Dali in Little Ashes, he was merely Cedric Diggory, the slain cutey from the Potter series. Now he's the vampire hottie of Twilight, and is gearing up to make all the young vamp lovers squee. But he's also going to show us a saucy side of Dali next year, and to the right you can get a glimpse of what that will be like, courtesy of EW. (And more over at MTV.)

Little Ashes focuses on the relationship between Dali and the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. Dali swore that Lorca's lust for him never became physical, but screenwriter Philippa Goslett's take on the relationship is much steamier, insisting that they did consummate the relationship in some way.

There has got to be something in the water over at Hogwarts, or something in the air on the sets of darker teen fare. Rather than sticking with fluffy musicals or succumbing to celebrity, these guys are branching out and really challenging themselves. That's refreshing to see.

But back to Mr. Salvador: Do you buy Pattinson as Dali?

Those crazy artists, always experimenting sexually. Big deal. Nothing new. Right? Oh wait, the idea still has people intrigued. Remember those lesbian scenes in Frida? Of course you do -- they're the only reason you watched the film. But will you be as interested in seeing a young Salvador Dalí make it with a man, specifically Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, as you were in seeing Salma Hayek kiss Ashley Judd? A UK-Spain production must be hoping so; it not only has the distinction of being about the 100th Dalí film in the works right now, but it also describes itself as the "racy" and "sexy" one, and will likely be released into the public reception as "the gay Dalí movie".
According to Guardian Unlimited, the film is titled Little Ashes, named for one of Dalí's paintings, and it isn't exactly based on any definite evidence. In fact, Dalí reportedly acknowledged being the object of Lorca's homosexual affection multiple times, but denied they ever became physical and insisted that he continually rejected the poet. However, the film's screenwriter, Philippa Goslett, stands by her depiction of the events. She claims to have done enough research to believe that the men consummated in some way. The way the script apparently shows it, as far as Guardian Unlimited relays it, is Dalí wants to have sex with Lorca but can't and then ends up merely acting as a voyeur, watching while Lorca sleeps with a woman.

Little Ashes is apparently done shooting, having been filmed primarily in Barcelona on a low budget of £1.4 million (roughly $2.9 million -- I think). Paul Morrison (Solomon and Gaenor) directed the film, with Robert Pattinson, best known as "Cedric Diggory" in the Harry Potter movies, playing Dalí. Spanish newcomer Javier Beltran is Lorca and Matthew McNulty (Control) portrays a young Luis Buñuel. On a related yet personal note, I must address to all my friends that this news will have no impact on my long-decided plan to go as Dalí for Halloween this year (I'm broke, and it's cheap -- you only need a long mustache and a suit!).