Twilight star Ashley Greene reveals that co-star Taylor Lautner was once in jeopardy of being recast in the film franchise. The 2008 romantic fantasy drama stars Kristen Stewart, who portrays the human Bella Swan. Starring alongside Stewart is Robert Pattinson as Bella's vampire love interest Edward Cullen and Lautner as Jacob Black, a Native American with the ability to shapeshift into a werewolf. The Twilight saga spans five films, assembling a larger and more loyal fanbase with each new release. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 brought the fantasy tale to a close in 2012.
The initial casting for Twilight was an endeavor in itself, although Stewart seemingly won the role of Bella right away. Casting for Edward and Jacob ultimately developed into a more in-depth journey. Henry Cavill was considered for the role of Edward, with Pattinson eventually filling the slot instead. And while Greene ultimately captured the role of Edward's clairvoyant adoptive sister Alice Cullen, Twilight series author Stephanie Meyer originally envisioned Rachel Leigh Cook for the part. Lautner is now synonymous with the role of Jacob, but things could have been quite different.
On an episode of her podcast The Twilight Effect, Greene recalls when co-star Lautner faced a recasting scenario over his role of Jacob. She described discussions about whether or not Lautner could transform into the character the studio needed. She insinuates that a lack of muscle mass made the actor's appearance remain in line with a younger and more physically immature Jacob. And while Lautner may have been most prominently on the chopping block, Greene admits that she believes everyone was replaceable at the time. See her exact comments below:
I don't remember if they had someone actually waiting in the wings, but I do remember there being discussions on whether or not he could transform into what he needed to be. I think we were all, at that point, replaceable. So I imagine there was a good bit of pressure on poor, young Taylor.
While landing a role in a major film franchise seems like a dream for any actor, it comes with a certain amount of pressure and expectations. Physical transformations are an integral part for some of these characters, particularly in fantasy and superhero properties. The filmmakers were keen on portraying Jacob as a muscular individual, so they needed Lautner to bulk up so he looked the part. Fortunately for the actor, he was up for the task, and he reprised Jacob in all of the Twilight sequels. That he was able to pull that off demonstrates his dedication to the role. It's clear he put in the work and didn't want to lose Twilight.
It's interesting to think about who could have replaced Lautner for New Moon. The main Twilight cast primarily consisted of young up-and-coming performers, so it's likely the studio would have opted for someone relatively unknown to slide into the role. The Twilight movies were never critical darlings, but after the first movie became a phenomenon, the trio of Stewart, Pattinson, and Lautner became household names, and it would have been difficult to replace any of them. Most would be in agreement sticking with them for the entire franchise was the right call. Although, Lautner admitted Twilight fame made him scared to go out in public, so perhaps he ultimately wouldn't have minded staying out of the spotlight.
Source: The Twilight Effect