Maintaining or getting hold of your position in the acting industry is a tough job, and this came out clearly after “Twilight” star Taylor Lautner opened up about his struggle to make himself the one to be cast for his role in the franchise. Recently, Lautner, along with his wife, Taylor Dome, appeared on a podcast episode of Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy.”
Taylor Lautner shared that he was just supposed to portray the role of Jacob Black in the first “Twilight” film as the team was willing to recast him for the rest of the upcoming franchise of the film, and the reason behind it was that in the first franchise, the team needed a 16-year-old boy, which Tyler was in actuality, but after the “New Moon” interval in the film, they needed a 25-year-old bulked-up guy.
Why was Tyler Lautner supposed to be recast?
The actor revealed that at the start of the film, the team needed a 16-year-old boy. “My character in the first book is supposed to be like a 16-year-old little scrawny boy, but after the New Moon scene, they had to cast a 25-year-old as, “In the middle of ‘New Moon,’ he transforms into this 25-year-old-looking, muscular man,” the actor added.
Based on his role, there was a requirement for an alterably modified transformation for his character in the franchise, and due to this, he was on the urge to lose his role for the rest of the franchise as he was just 16 years old at the time.
Lautner said that when he was cast for the role in the film, he was 16, and the team had planned to cast a mid-20s guy to take the character forward and Jacob for the rest of the franchise. The actor said, “I had to fight for my role back.”
The news made Lautner determined to keep his role, and Lautner began excessive working routines to gain 20–25 pounds, “hardcore working out for about nine months,” the actor added. When the time for the new part of the franchise came up, his team got in touch with the franchise team.
He added, “I was ready, so when we got that call, my team was like, ‘Have you seen him recently?’”. Though Lautner had already been a part of the franchise from the start, he still had to give a re-audition for the same role.
Continuing the podcast episode, Lautner also mentioned that growing up his body in such a huge bulk to look older than his actual age, and within 9 months, this effect of growing limelight actually affected his body image. Also, his body image from his character in the franchise has become his only recognized name.
The actor said, “I dealt in the last five to seven years with a lot of body image issues because in the franchise, not wearing those many clothes, you know. And I was also 17, 18, and 19 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.”
Lautner mentioned that it was very challenging and difficult for him to do anything to keep his role safe from being recast, but on his recent condition, the actor said, “I’m much better at it now, but there are good days and bad days still.” He also shared his gratitude to his wife, Taylor Dome, who stood beside him as a support through this journey of issues he had to face due to his body image.
