Taylor Lautner has become a sensation thanks to his role in the Twilight Saga, though at one stage it didn’t look like he’d return for the sequel when producers threatened to recast the role unless he bulked up for his turn as the werewolf. Looks like a little bit of pressure paid off and now the 18 year old is making mega bucks with his current flicks outside of the vampire realm.
He was last year’s highest paid teenage actor earning a reported $7.5 million for his part in Universal’s upcoming movie ‘Stretch Armstrong’ based on the iconic action figure. He’ll also be producing and starring in 2 new movie tentpoles between the Twilight flicks with Fox 2000 and New Regency paying a whopping 8-digit paycheck. Michael Bay is also said to be vying for Taylor to star in one of his companies new movies for 2012, largely because of Lautner’s fab abs and swooning fanbase.
His next project is the sci-fi / fantasy ‘Incarceron’ with the studio looking to cast either Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence or Emma Watson as his love interest. Lautner will play the 17 year old prisoner Finna who lives his entire life in the savage and futuristic prison Incarceron, however he experiences visions of an earlier life and realizes he is prophesied to escape. Based on Catherine Fisher’s novel, it became a New York Times bestseller and was picked up by Fox last March after a bidding war.John Palermo Productions will produce along with Lautner’s own Quick Six production banner.
His 2nd film project is an international spy thriller from New Regency in the same vein as ‘The Bourne Identity’. It will be based on the exploits of Juval Aviv, a former Israeli Mossad agent who also served as inspiration for Spielberg’s ‘Munich’. Lautner will also produce alongside New Regency’s founder, Alexandra Milchan.
The Twilight Saga is scheduled to wrap this spring with Fox 2000 and New Regency securing the star for his time outside of the blockbuster franchise. However Nikki Finke reports that there are a few other producers trying to lure him to their projects and capitalize on his growing popularity. One such film is ‘Demon Wars’ being produced by Scott Stuber and is an epic fantasy adventure that would see Lautner play a reluctant hero confronting the dark tides of destiny, based on the book by R.A. Slavatore. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron the team behind ‘Chicago’ and ‘Hairspray’ also have an untitled project that is looking for the talents of such a star.
Taylor Lautner is certainly a capable and energetic young actor with plenty of screen presence but it’s yet to be seen just how much of his popularity will translate to box-office receipts.Though unlike other young stars riding the wave of popularity, he’s not spending his time partying and making headlines but developing serious projects that show this is a young man who’s got plans for the long haul.
via: Deadline
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