“Twilight” star Taylor Lautner wasn’t exactly thrilled with the whole Team Edward vs. Team Jacob thing. He played the part of Jacob Black, the hunky wolf shapeshifter, in the franchise.
He opened up about his feelings on the years-old rivalry on a recent episode of “Call Her Daddy.” The rivalry had even impacted his relationship with Robert Pattinson, who played the enigmatic Edward Cullen.
Lautner admitted that it hurt his feelings sometimes. He wasn’t sure if Pattinson felt the same, but for him, being pitted against Pattinson was tough, especially at his young age. He confessed, “It was a little difficult.”
The actor recalled how challenging it was when he and Pattinson were pitted against each other due to their “Twilight” fame. It was a bit awkward, he said.
Lautner, now 31, explained how strange it felt to stand on a balcony with Pattinson, hearing 10,000 girls booing one of them and cheering the other. It was hard to maintain a friendship under those circumstances.
He also revealed that he never really connected with Pattinson, who’s now 37. They’re just “very, very different people,” he explained.
Lautner further elaborated that they never really connected on a deep level. However, he had nothing but praise for Pattinson, describing him as “always fantastic and the sweetest person ever.”
Despite the discomfort he often felt during his “Twilight” fame, Lautner said he looks back on the time with gratitude. He acknowledged that there were pros and cons to what “Twilight” gave him, but the pros far outweigh the cons.
He also shared that he nearly got cut after the first movie and had to fight to keep his role. His character, Jacob Black, was supposed to transform from a scrawny boy to a muscular man. The casting team initially planned to replace him with a huskier man to better portray the transformed Jacob Black.
But Lautner didn’t give up. He spent nine months packing on about 25 lbs. to better mirror his character. His efforts paid off and he remained in the role of Jacob Black for the remaining three films.
Lautner is still in great shape today. He even called out critics in June who accused him of aging “like a raisin” by flexing his biceps on social media.
