Twilight Avoided Its Biggest Possible Mistake by Keeping Taylor Lautner

Summary

• Twilight is one of the most recognizable franchises in the world.
• The Saga came close to getting rid of its ultimate heartthrob.
• Taylor Lautner had to re-audition for his role to prove he was the right fit.
• The actor has felt pressure to look fit since the franchise.

In 2023, 'franchise' is almost a dirty word that surprises no one. In fact, there are so many of them, it's no wonder people aren't impressed by their size. The MCU and DCU with their numerous big and small screen installments, The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off Young Sheldon. Yellowstone – the list goes on and on. But there are still classic franchises from the 2000s that stand out from the rest.

The Twilight Saga is undoubtedly one of the film series from that era that continues to resonate with audiences. Revolving around Bella Swan, the franchise explores her journey into the world of the supernatural as she moves to a small town in Washington State and gets involved with the local vampire family as well as a pack of werewolves.

With plenty of romantic drama and fantastical plot twists, Twilight is especially beloved by fans for its eye-catching cast. For example, the film series' male leads, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, were the ultimate heartthrobs at the time of the franchise's premiere. Interestingly, the saga almost made an irreparable mistake by recasting Lautner midway through the film series.

Taylor Lautner on Fighting to Keep His Iconic Role

'My character in the first book is supposed to be like a sixteen-year-old little scrawny boy, and in the middle of New Moon, he transforms into this twenty-five-year-old looking built, muscular man,' Taylor Lautner shared in a recent interview.

As a result, the role of Jacob had to be recast because of this drastic difference in appearance. According to the actor, Twilight producers were looking for a male actor in his twenties to portray the fan favorite for the rest of the franchise. Therefore, Lautner had to 'fight' to get his role back and show his determination to portray the characters by getting jacked after nine months of hardcore training and re-auditioning for the role.

Twilight's Toll on Lautner's Mental Health

Still, playing the ultimate heartthrob in Twilight took a toll on the actor's well-being, as people expected him to maintain his image from the saga.

'I dealt in the last five to seven years with a lot of body image issues because in the franchise, not wearing that many clothes, you know. And I also was seventeen, eighteen, nineteen years old, and it was a lot easier to have a body like that, but that's what most of the world knows me as,' Taylor Lautner revealed.

Fortunately, the actor is doing well now and is making steady strides in his acting career.

Source: Spotify.