Two out of the Twilight trio went on to have great careers in Hollywood, but unfortunately, Taylor Lautner wasn’t as lucky as they were. After Lautner played Jacob for the last time in Breaking Dawn (2012), he has only been in a few projects here and there, none of which did much for his career.
Now, the question is, why won’t Hollywood hire Lautner? Does he not have what it takes to be a leading man? Well, to answer that question, let’s go back to 2011 when he starred in John Singleton’s action thriller, Abduction.
With just a little over $80 million at the box office and a 5% approval rating on RT, the film did absolutely nothing to push Lautner as Hollywood’s next leading man. In fact, critics were so harsh to the man that Slate Magazine stated, he “can’t carry a movie any more than Abigail Breslin can carry a refrigerator.”
Another reviewer stated that the only way to sit through Abduction is with the help of a “controlled substance” (via ReelViews). Perhaps the harshest review came from The New York Times‘ Stephen Holden, who not only called Lautner “opaque” and came for his physiognomy, but also compared him to an “advanced robot simulating human speech without registering emotion or even comprehension.”
After Abduction and the end of The Twilight Saga, Lautner starred in Tracers (2015), which may have been better received than the 2011 film, was simply not enough. The film was only in theaters across America for one whole day, and the international box office wasn’t a success either.
He then went on to play roles in The Ridiculous 6, Run the Tide, and Home Team, each facing a similar fate as the last. Although he did have main roles in Cuckoo and Scream Queens, so that’s something.
Comparing Lautner to Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, the on-screen lovers took advantage of the opportunities they had to branch out and away from Twilight. Stewart starred in films like Adventureland and The Runaways, and Pattinson, well, he did all he could do to leave his vampire days in the rearview mirror with projects like Water for Elephants and Remember Me.
There may be other factors that contributed to his downward trajectory, including his father, Daniel. As THR reported back in the day, Lautner’s high-profile publicist, Robin Baum, dropped the actor within three months due to his father. Reportedly, Daniel wasn’t the easiest guy to work with.
Is Taylor Lautner Still Trapped in Twilight‘s Shadow?
Many may call Taylor Lautner a one-hit wonder thanks to Twilight, but just how true is that? As stated before, Pattinson and Stewart distanced themselves from the franchise while there was still time, but Lautner couldn’t.
Anywhere he goes, Lautner will first and foremost be recognized as “the guy who played the werewolf in that vampire flick.” An agent stated back in 2015, “It’s not easy to move out of the shadow of a hit like Twilight. But he’s still very young. There’s time for Taylor to become more than just Jacob” (via THR).
A decade has passed, and it looks like he hasn’t been able to overcome the Twilight curse just yet. Post the release of the final film, it has been reported that Lautner and his agent had great expectations when it came to the actor’s paychecks. It does make sense that a young actor coming off one of Hollywood’s most successful franchises would want to be paid fairly. However, could this have been a bad call?
A production executive once told Vulture that Lautner’s agency did “a brilliant job of convincing Hollywood that he’s the next big movie star.” Apparently, he got paid $5 million for Abduction.
Taylor Lautner’s Upcoming Projects
Speaking of Lautner being stuck in Twilight‘s shadow, he will soon be seen in Amazon MGM Studios’ Werewolf Hunter. Playing himself, the actor will be seen chasing the same animals that once brought him fame (via PEOPLE).
As per the summary, the show will “reveal” what Lautner has been up to ever since he vanished from the spotlight: “Fans speculated, tabloids theorized—but the truth is wilder than fiction. Taylor wasn’t just taking a mental health break. He was preparing for his real calling…Taylor Lautner: Werewolf Hunter.”
A post shared by Taylor Lautner (@taylorlautner)
Lautner will be helping a “secret society of werewolf trackers who need his unique expertise.” The logline adds,
As he navigates his double life — Hollywood actor by day, supernatural warrior by night — Taylor must wrestle with the ultimate irony: fighting the very creatures that made him famous. Between saving the world, reviving his career, and falling in love, he faces the ultimate question — what happens when your biggest role becomes your greatest enemy?
Can the actor ever escape his past? Does he want to? Guess we will find out. A release date is yet to be announced.
Lautner will also be a part of Natalie Simpkins’ The Token Groomsman, a romcom. His character, Scott, gets invited to a luxurious wedding as a groomsman, but the only problem is that he doesn’t remember who the groom is. Eventually, a career-driven Scott is left to choose between money and love (via Deadline). The film also stars Kane Brown, Sarah Hyland, and more.
Could The Token Groomsman be what he needs to restart his career? Let us know your honest opinion in the comments section below!
