Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Taylor Lautner Reveals His Role In 'Twilight' Was Almost Recast For 'New Moon': 'I Had To Fight'

Taylor Lautner
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT

The actor revealed on the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast how he had to bulk up between the first and second movies to stake his claim on the role of Jacob in the hit franchise.

In a recent episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Taylor Lautner shared his close call with losing the role of Jacob Black in the Twilight film series.

Originally slated for recasting with a mid-20s actor, Lautner had to fight to retain the role against contenders like Michael Copon. So, to secure his position, he underwent a rigorous fitness transformation to prove to the studio that he could also be the jacked version of Jacob Black for the remainder of the series.


But despite his dedicated efforts, Lautner still had to re-audition for the part.

He noted:

“So their plan just all along was to cast a 16-year-old, which they did. I was 16 at the time. And then they were going to cast like a mid-20s guy to carry on and be Jacob for the rest of the franchise."

But Lautner had been hitting the gym for the past nine months and was ready when they called to deliver him the news.

"My team was like, 'Have you seen him recently?' and they were like, 'No, why?' and they were like 'Well, you may want to take a meeting with him or something.'"

And the rest is history.

On the podcast, Lautner also discussed the body image challenges tied to his shirtless appearances in the films, expressing an improved but not perfect relationship with his body.

Lautner credited the ongoing support of loved ones, including his wife Taylor Dome, for helping him navigate these challenges. The actor acknowledged the continuous nature of his personal growth, emphasizing the presence of both good and challenging days in his journey towards a healthier body image.

Taylor Lautner was going to be recast for the Twilight series #twilight #taylorlautner #callherdaddywww.youtube.com

People were glad Lautner got to stick around.


A lot of fans were stuck on him being just 16.


But many Twilight fans are remembering that this story is, well, old news.

In fact, it's a story that Lautner himself has been telling ever since the production of the Twilight films.


But really, if they were going for accuracy in the books, there was an alternate casting choice that could have been made.

This does kind of bring us all back to a simpler, kinder time.

Despite his body image issues at the time, Lautner has made a lot of progress and has been very open and honest in recent years about advocating for mental health awareness.

Continue to fight the good fight, Taylor!

More from Entertainment/celebrities

Frankie Muniz
Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

Frankie Muniz Reveals He Turned Down Hosting 'SNL' As A Kid For A Chance To Meet His Celebrity Crush

During awards season each year, it feels like all of the big-name actors have to be in a thousand places at once. From accepting awards to walking the red carpet to presenting awards to their colleagues, there's no end to the obligations, fun, and excitement.

But sometimes, obligations might overlap—and actors might have to make a tough choice about which event to attend. For Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz, his tough choice came back in 2000, and he wrestled with it for the most adorable reason.

Keep ReadingShow less
Charlie Kirk
Benjamin Hanson/Middle East Images via AFP/Getty Images

New York Newspaper Apologizes For Running Charlie Kirk Cartoon After It Sparks GOP Calls For Boycott

Newsday, a paper based out of Long Island, apologized amid calls from GOP leaders for a boycott after publishing a cartoon by former Pulitzer finalist Chip Bok about the murder of far-right-activist Charlie Kirk.

The cartoon depicts an empty chair with blood spattered above it, with an arrow linking the words “Turning Point USA”—Kirk’s organization—to the chair.

Keep ReadingShow less
Malcom-Jamal Warner
FOX via Getty Images

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Widow Breaks Her Silence With Poignant Message On Their Anniversary

It was just a couple months ago that many mourned the sudden death of Malcom-Jamal Warner after his accidental drowning on a beach in Costa Rica.

Warner rose to fame in The Cosby Show, entering the hearts of millions. Recently his widow, Tenisha Warner, revealed the tribute his family will be making to honor his legacy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Britt Lower
Monica Schipper/WireImage

Eagle-Eyed Fans Notice Subtle 'Severance' Nod Written On Back Of Star's Emmys Speech

Actor Britt Lower had one of the biggest moments of the night at Sunday's Emmys with her big win for Apple TV's Severance, but the real moment for fans was blink-and-you-miss-it.

Lower won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the show, and during her speech she did the usual rounds of "thank yous" for her family, friends, and colleagues.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Peter Navarro
CNBC

Trump Adviser Gets Epic Reminder After Claiming The Left Went After Him Like They Did Charlie Kirk

President Donald Trump's senior counselor Peter Navarro was swiftly fact-checked after claiming during a CNBC interview that Democrats sent him to prison as a political attack, asserting that leftists went after him how "they got" Charlie Kirk, the far-right activist who was assassinated last week.

Navarro, who also served during Trump's first administration and participated in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 general election, holds the distinction of being the first former White House official imprisoned on a contempt-of-Congress conviction.

Keep ReadingShow less