Taylor Lautner recalls ‘difficult’ rivalry with ‘Twilight’ co-star Robert Pattinson: We never ‘connected’
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“Twilight” star Taylor Lautner was no fan of the Team Edward vs. Team Jacob debate.
The actor — who played hunky wolf shapeshifter Jacob Black in the iconic franchise — revealed his true feelings about the years-old rivalry and how it affected his relationship with Robert Pattinson — who famously portrayed the mysterious Edward Cullen — on Wednesday’s episode of “Call Her Daddy.”
“I don’t know for him, but for me at least it definitely, like, especially at the age I was at, like, you get your feelings hurt sometimes when you shouldn’t,” he explained to podcast host Alex Cooper about being pitted against the British actor.
“But it’s hard not to sometimes. But, yeah, it was a little difficult.”
Taylor Lautner recalled his “difficult” relationship with Robert Pattinson and their “Twilight” fame as the pair were pitted against each other for years.Getty Images
“You get your feelings hurt sometimes when you shouldn’t,” he admitted on Wednesday’s episode of “Call Her Daddy.”FilmMagic
He also noted that the intensity of the Team Edward vs. Team Jacob battle could get “awkward.”Getty Images
Speaking on his relationship with Pattinson, he added, “We never really connected on a deep level just because we’re different humans.”Getty Images
Lautner, 31, added, “I think it was awkward at times for the two of us to be standing together on a balcony and having 10,000 girls booing Rob but then cheering for me but then this half, you know, booing me and cheering [for Rob], but then us having to have some sort of friendship. It was difficult.”
Lautner also revealed he never formed a close relationship with Pattinson, 37, because they are “very, very different people.”
“We never really connected on a deep level just because we’re different humans,” he explained, noting that his co-star “was 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.
However, Lautner said Pattinson was always “fantastic” to work with and was “the sweetest person ever.”Getty Images
Lautner played Jacob Black, a Native American who could shapeshift into a wolf.Andrew Cooper, SMPSP
Meanwhile, Pattinson played Edward Cullen, a vampire who was enemies with Jacob Black’s family.ANDREW COOPER, SMPSP
“There’s pros and cons to what [“Twilight”] gave me, but the pros far outweigh the cons,” the “Squeeze” co-host noted.
“It took a journey after the franchise was over with figuring out who I really am and what is truly important to me in life. I’m very, very thankful for the franchise.”
Surprisingly, Lautner also revealed that he nearly got cut after the first movie and had to fight to keep his role.
Lautner also revealed on “Call Her Daddy” that casting directors wanted to cut him after the first movie in favor of a more muscular man.Getty Images
“My character in the first book is supposed to be like this 16-year-old, little scrawny boy,” he recalled.
“And then in the middle of ‘New Moon’ he transforms into this … built muscular man.”
Therefore, the casting team planned from the beginning to replace him with a huskier man to better portray the more built Jacob Black.
He gained 25 lbs. of muscle and re-auditioned, earning his spot in the franchise for the next three films.CBS via Getty Images
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In addition to re-auditioning for his role, the “Sharkboy and Lavagirl” star 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 ripped to this day and even called out critics in June who accused him of aging “like a raisin” by taking to social media to flex his biceps.
