EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that the Taylor Lautner juggernaut continues in Hollywood as this 18-year-old Twilight Saga action star and teen heartthrob just keeps booking movie after movie. Last year’s highest paid teenage actor (for a reported $7.5 million pay day in Universal’s Stretch Armstrong with Hasbro and Imagine) is starting off the new year by producing and starring in 2 new studio tentpoles during 2011. I can scoop that Fox 2000 and New Regency each coughed up an 8-digit paycheck to work with 8-pack-abs Tay-Tay for his two only available time slots this year. Meanwhile, three top producers including Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes are circling Taylor to star in their movies for 2012 and beyond. That’s because of Lautner’s enormous Twi-hard fan base and aggressive promotion of his films, and not because of any solo box office he’s done yet.
Fox 2000 and the filmmakers now are looking to cast his love interest in Incarceron, and I’m told the frontrunners are Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Watson. John Palermo Productions will produce (Wolverine, Drive) with Lautner’s own Quick Six production banner., Lautner will play the lead role from Catherine Fisher’s sci-fi/fantasy novel which last March went to Fox in a rights bidding war after the book was published in the U.S. this November and jumped onto The New York Times bestseller list. Lautner plays a character who lives his entire life in a savage and futuristic prison society. The screenwriting duo of Adam Cooper and Bill Collage are writing. (They are also scripting Moby Dick for Timur Bekmanbetov and Moses for FOX and producer Peter Chernin. So why not for Lautner, too?)
The 2nd Lautner vehicle is an as–yet-unnamed international spy thriller set up at New Regency described to me as “The Bourne Identity for the next generation.” The story is loosely based on the exploits of Juval Aviv, a former Israeli Mossad agent who was the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-nominated Munich. Lautner will produce with Alexandra Milchan (who is currently producing The Wolf Of Wall Street with Leonardo DiCaprio), daughter of Israeli mogul Arnon Milchan who is New Regency’s founder.
Taylor is scheduled to finish shooting the Twilight Saga’s Breaking Dawn this spring. And Fox 2000 and New Regency grabbed his two available slots for 2011. But insiders tell me that several producers are now trying to woo him to their projects: The team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago, Hairspray) who have an untitled project; Scott Stuber who has Demon Wars, a book written by bestselling author R.A. Slavatore. Lautner would play a reluctant hero in this epic fantasy adventure confronting the dark tides of destiny in his search for justice and peace; and Michael Bay whose production company Platinum Dunes is aggressively trying to make a movie this year with Taylor’s limited availability.
All this — and yet Taylor won’t even turn 19 until February 11th, and Hollywood won’t find out the kid’s non-Twilight Saga box office power until Lionsgate releases its thriller Abduction later this year on September 23rd.
- Fox 2000 Does Taylor Lautner Deal For ‘Incarceron’
- Lionsgate Buys Taylor-Attached ‘Abduction’
- Universal Pays Taylor Lautner $7.5M For ‘Stretch Armstrong’
- Studios Battle Over Taylor Lautner Project (Yes, Another One!)
- Taylor Lautner Gets Another Film Franchise: ‘Stretch Armstrong’
- Taylor Lautner Now Hollywood’s Highest Paid Teenage Actor
The Prince of Hollywood is just laying down the foundations for a great career.
He’s very young so he can afford to be risky.
lol, he’s not being risky at all. He’s doing a bunch of action crap that would make the same money no matter who they threw in front of the camera. He’s the teenage Sam Worthington.
And why not? That’s a lot savvier than Robert Pattinson/Zac Efron’s Remember Me/Charlie St. Cloud strategy: making uncommercial romantic dramas that rely solely on their fragile drawing power.
Actually Robert Pattinson just signed with David Cronenberg so you are fail!
Spot on. Prove your box office power BEFORE going for the slushy/I’m a serious actor roles
A lot savvier? I don’t think either of those two films were ever meant to be blockbusters. RM actually made back triple of what it took to make, it did fine. I’m not the biggest Zac Efron fan but he’s at least doing some interesting films, he has enough money to last him a life time. Why not take some risks and try and earn some credibility? Same goes for Robert Pattinson, taking films roles like Water for Elephants, Bel Ami and Cosmopolis can only enhance his career. He has a lot of money but very little respect from critics. Taylor maybe taking on big action flicks which gain him even more money but truth is he has more than he can spend already but he’s gonna get no respect from anyone for these bland movie choices. Of course they could bomb at the BO and then he’d be even more screwed, fact is no one even knows if he can sell a film. Without the backing of the Twi franchise and his other co stars, will anyone really be interested?
robert pattinson has taken so many risks, one might mistake this for stupidity. maybe lautner is the smartest of these kids. he seemingly recognizes his limited acting ability and is running with it. that formula worked for tom cruise for 20 years.
I totally agree with dudette.
Why does Mia assume that Lautner wants respect from Critics??
Lautner isn’t a stage actor (he may not measure his success on the opinions of critics.
Truth of the matter. Lautner is doing exactly what he wants to do – action films. He’s said this every time he’s been asked. He said his dream project would be something like the ‘Bourne’ films…so now they are writing one for him, custom made. Pattinson has turned down fast lane projects and favors more ‘Indie’ type films. They’re doing exactly what they want.
Look at Taylor Lautner’s life – it reads like an action film. He can do what ever he want’s to do, so he’s doing it, Action Films. He’s eighteen, smart, rich, focused and talented. How many 18 year olds do you know that formed their own production companies? He’s grabbing the brass ring, I hope he has a fabulous ‘ride’. His parents raised him right, he’s a great kid.
Good Luck
But maybe his Dad formed production company and named after his famous son? It is more believable.
YES! You’re the only one getting this correct. SPOT ON…it’s too early to speculate anyway.
Cue the Mayan apocalypse…..please.
Good for you man. This is your shot take it! Ride it till the wheels come off. Just don’t grow up and be a douche!
Ohmigod this is funny…and may I add great advice.
Robert Pattinson has a huge following, yet “Remember Me” did pretty poorly at the box office. This is a pretty risky move betting on Tay-Tay.
I take a lot of this with a grain of salt. I’m not sure he’s really pulling in these huge checks and has people taking these gambles on him. I think that’s the message his team wants out there. I think the truth is probably less exciting.
RM did fine. It made triple its budget. But its budget was small. Lautner’s not going to have that flexibility. He’s going to need to pull in serious bank. However, if they’re mindless action films, they should do fine.
“insiders tell me that several producers are now trying to woo him to their projects”
Gosh, I wonder who those “insiders” could be? Kid has the most aggressive PR team I’ve seen in ages. Maybe they should wait for one of his projects to actual make it to the pre-production phase before they start trumpeting about his crazy, insane offers. I still think Stretch Armstrong is already dead.
Gamble much??? I’m sorry, but really Hollywood?
Didn’t Summit almost recast him in New Moon — he hit the gym and was forced to audition again. The only thing making him popular are lonely Twilight moms.
And let’s not forget “The only thing making him popular are lonely” people like you Captain Awesome who also is giving him attention when you’re less than fulfilling life affords you time to go searching and commenting articles of people who “don’t interest you”
This guy seems like a nice kid. Let’s hope we don’t have another Keanu on our hands.
Anyone that knows anything should know that Alexandra is one of the biggest jerks in town. She is riding off her father’s coat tails and her worthless production company is being funded by his very generous “tax-free” holiday gift this season. I have no idea why someone of Leo’s stature would work with her given her terrible reputation, temper and lack of any respect for anyone that works for her. She is worse than any agent assistant horror story you can dream of. Also why does no one in this town seem to realize that Taylor Lautner still can’t act worth a damn?!
Leo has been attached to this for SO long. His “people” are constantly reassuring her that it will be his next picture, but it’s clear it isn’t going to get made… at least not with him. I wouldn’t say she is riding off or Arnon’s coat tails, but she has clearly become her own worst enemy in this town.
You aren’t wrong about Milchan. Word has spread how she treats her employees and takes advantage of young writers.
Hahaha, how many movies is DiCaprio going to attach himself to? Wolf of Wall Street is sooo 2006, and while we’re on the subject of partnerships with Scott, what about “Low Dweller” and the “Monopoly” movie? With Leo (no offense to him) I believe it when cameras start rolling.
What is the fascination with this kid? He has never opened a movie, he’s not that charismatic. And based on the disappointing lack of interest in him post-New Moon, I would’ve thought the studios would now be regretting investing in him so much.
Hollywood is betting big on this kid! And I don’t see this gamble paying off. It’s clear that his PR team is trying to market him as a big star. However, outside of tweeners and twilight moms…I don’t see this kid gaining a male audience.
Also on a shallow note the combination of Lively/ or Lawerence with Lautner would just look absolutely ridiculous!
I think you may be wrong. Yeah the twi kids are riding on the coatails of Twilight, but unlike his counterpart Robert Pattinson who is choosing movies men yawn at, and why he isn’t making the A List in box offices, Taylor has a chance. Women of all ages will want to go see him and they’ll drag their husbands and dates and they will agree based on the fact that at least theres some action and not all yawn.
Good luck to Tay-tay with that strategy but it totally didn`t work for Orlando Bloom, another tween and teen hearthrob that men couldn`t stand. He was doing fine while riding big star`s coattails (Depp, Pitt) or appearing in big brand name franchise with built-in fandom (LOTR), but once he went solo both in men`s favorite epic/action genre (KoH) and girl`s favorite romcom (Elisabethtown), the result was a complete boxoffice and critical catastrophy and lots of money lost for studios that thought he was the Next Erroll Flynn.
Your kidding right? Robert Pattinson is at least taking risks. You can tell by his diversity in film choices. Water for Elephants is also creating a lot of buzz and stars some pretty big actors in, to be honest I would go see a film with a good story and a decent script rather than a brainless action flick. There is no proof that Lautner can hold his own, without the Twi cast. This is a massive risk and even more so considering the massive drop of interest in him post Eclipse.
LOL,People this is this difference in men and women! Mia the blindsided fool dazzled by a dude who sparkles! Come on girl, Robert Pattinson’s done diversity? You’re fooling yourself! He’s doing brooding woe is me after woe is me movie!
Your kidding right? Taylor Lautner is at least taking risks. You can tell by his diversity in film choices. Abduction is also creating a lot of buzz and stars some pretty big actors in, to be honest I would go see a film with a good story and a decent script with some action in it rather than a brainless chick flick. There is no proof that Pattinson can hold his own, without the Twi cast. This is a massive risk and even more so considering the massive drop of interest in him post Eclipse.
See folks I rest my case. Goes hand in hand doesn’t it Mia.
Pattinson already proved it. His film Remember Me is one of most profitable movies in 2010.
I read Incarceron and Sapphique and as I read them I kept imagining Emma Watson as Claudia. SO I for one would be very pleased if she ends up being casted. BTW I think making those books into movies is a huge risk, it could go either way.. so if they do make them I hope they go all out… I also hope they consider director Guillermo del Toro, I think he’d be good for it.
Anyway, good for Lautner. Can’t wait to see him in his first role outside of Twilight to get a better idea of what he can really do.
Lautner is now Vice President of the lucky club.
Then Jennifer Aniston must be President.
He’s 2018’s Dolph Lundgren…
No offense, but this kid’s only chops are that washboard he’s wearing.
And you expect to have credibility on what you say about this kid when you nor anyone else dissing him on here has even given him a chance to see if he does have it or does not? You who names himself or herself “The Beatles Suck” Laughable, if they do suck then you must be the scum underneath their shoes.
Both Pattinson and Stewart have repeatedly proven their names mean nothing outside The Franchise. The backing-up of dump trucks full of cash to this kid’s house is just more proof that the imbeciles who run the studios have no intention on cutting back on either star salaries or production costs. I have nothing against the guy, but eight-figure paydays to a literally unproven talent is the working definition of insanity.
Unproven? Whether or not you like the Twilight series or Taylor’s acting in them – you have to agree that those movies bring in tons of money! TONS!!! The studios profit, the crew, the directors, producers, etc. so why shouldn’t the actors? You can’t prove the franchise would have been just as successful without him…and since he’s in them, he is a part of the reason they are so successful. Those movies are so huge that if Taylor and the rest of the cast decide to never act again, they SHOULD be set for a lifetime. Now, taking a risk on someone who has only proved fruitful for one franchise is risky, but less risky than taking a chance on someone who no one knows. Like him or not, at least people know him well enough to have a reaction. That’s the first step covered…with two more movies left to go in the franchise! I say a well positioned Taylor, with limited “acting” roles and mega action, a good movie (and profit) that will make! I think this is a smart PR idea and hope it bodes well.
Someone once asked Marlon Brando why he was worth $3 million to act in “Superman” and he said, “Because someone will pay it.” Good for Lautner. Shake down the bastards. Dear God I hope he has family and friends from before he played Sharkboy so he will have a support group. Not all the vampires are in Twilight.
I think this is called “The Cable Guy” principle — the most desperate studio/project sets the highest price for the star.
IDK, 10mil+ for a kid that has proven nothing? I just can’t buy that Hollywood people can be THIS dumb! Oh wait…
His salary seems to have you all going green!! Let’s remember this isn’t the 80’s or 90’s and Lautner’s big salary could be the sum of his two roles in the films, that being the actor in them and one of the producers.
I gotta agree with you there, Cadavra, the guy is so unproven it’s ridiculous. Sure, he’s in the Twilight films, but still, like you said, both Pattinson and Stewart have shown that they can’t headline films that make money other then the Twilight ones. I think the studio’s will likely pull there projects with Lautner once they see that Abduction doesn’t make any money at the box office.
Although, I gotta say, he’s got one helluva an agent — I mean, if he can start demanding 8 figure salaries, his agent has got to be doing something right.
Nice to know that Alexandra Milchan is rude to other people and not just me. Thanks for returning phone calls! What goes around comes around, honey.
So long as he sticks to movies that will focus on that giant female fanbase of his, he’ll be ok. Because the second he tries to appeal to guys with some sort of action flick, just watch his career go into the tank. He has zero appeal to guys. ZERO. And it’ll never go higher than that.
Stick to women Taylor – it’s the only way you’ll have a career!
I wouldn’t go as far as saying he has ZERO! appeal with guys. I thought he was one of the better roles in the Twilight series. I identified with the cocky, adolescent Jacob character way more than the moping, brooding Edward. I could see him having a career similar in trajectory to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, ie; action movies with a dose of comedy thrown in. I just hope he doesn’t go the serious route and try to prove he is a “real” actor.
You may not go so far as to say it, but I will. ZERO! appeal. Bank on it.
Oh my, Emma Watson as Claudia is a total win. Such a good role. She is so perfect for it. Claudia is an aristocratic young lady, Emma can even keep her British accent. I like the contrast btw her and Lautner as the rough incarcerated Finn. Please, please, please make this happen.
Thumbs down on Blake Lively and Jennifer Lawrence, this is not a good role for them plus they look too old to play a 17-year old girl. It’s probably their PR teams throwing their names out about casting for any role. If they were 18, Chloe Moretz and Dakota Fanning would also be good candidates. They are too young to be acting with a 19 year old love interest.
I can’t see Watson signing on for another fantasy franchise right now. That would be a terrible move for her. And Lawrence and Lively are going to have better offers out there than a fantasy series that doesn’t seem to have a director or a production schedule yet. I think that list of actresses is more a “wishful thinking” list than anything else.
Well good for him and congratulations to his managers. You did a brilliant job. Robert Pattinson need to hire Launtners managers and fire his own. That’s how you make money from nothing.
And those are some brave producers who hire actor in major roles without any knowledge about his star power. And i don’t know. It looked promising when he was on his peak during promotions of New Moon and Eclipse. Everyone were crazy. But then promotion ended and Taylor basically disappeared. No new pictures for months. And the most important thing – no one misses him. Even twihards. It’s like he never existed.
Of course he will be back to promotions of another Twilight movies. But i’m afraid that when it will end Taylor will disappear too. I don’t see how he can carry a movie on his own. I don’t know if he can act. And he looks like he doesn’t have any personality. He is always the same in every event, interview or acceptance speech. He can’t even make a funny or interesting speech as we all saw him on People’s choice awards. He is boring as person.
I respect him because unlike those other two Twilight actors he actually worked for his fame. He was nothing but then they wanted to fire him and he went to gym and then on those promotions and become famous. I liked him. But i’m over it long time ago. Now he is just like some Ken doll.
Pattinson just scored a leading role in a Cronenberg film. I’m pretty sure he’s quite happy with what his team is doing for him.
nothing against taylor, but dont drag robs name into your post so you can put down his team. the guy just got a cronenberg movie. thats nothing to laugh at.
‘No-one misses him’
Em. excuse me? Exactly how can you prove that? He has a huge fanbase, and we miss him terribly when he’s not around. Of course he hasn’t been in the press as much since Eclipse, he has no movies to promote and isn’t dating anyone. And yet, his fanbase is still highly interested in him. Just because you don’t care, don’t make the mistake of thinking everyone agrees with you. Trust me, when Taylor starts appearing in his own movies, and everyone sees he can actually act, he’ll be way bigger than he was in Twilight.
Taylor is not just a nice six pack – he’s also got girls (and some boys) swooning over his face, his sweetness. Relax – this is a Hollywood tradition. Anyone remember Tony Curtis? Sal Mineo? They were the long lashed boys with heart that got a large portion of an audience to show up and adore them. There’s money here – and if Taylor is sold correctly, he will win people over because he is a photogenic, sweet guy. You can be mad about this – go ahead, it’s fair to be angry – I’ll even yell a bit in your honor – but he has a right to be here and has a right to some serious bank.
^Umm, but the girl in the novel is 17. 15 is closer to 17 which is Dakota’s age than 20 which is Emma’s age. Chloe is like 13 so you really shouldn’t mention her. That is like borderline rape to suggest it. The Twilight fans will support this movie if Dakota is going to be in it. Harry Potter and Twilight just don’t mix, unfortunately.
Dumb comment. Pattinson was in both Harry Potter AND Twilight.
Saoirse Ronan is 16 and looks absolutely aristocratic. Plus is a great actress.
Dakota is also maturing nicely by the time filming starts, she’ll be about 17 (she won’t act until high school is over for her). An older actress to play the love interest just isn’t believable. She will be like a sister to Taylor who is actually 18 (19 in February but Emma will be 21 in April). Anyways, why is Emma getting rumored movie projects with Pattinson and now Taylor? Very weird trend
Yes! Emma W. is perfect to play Claudia. Please make it happen!