The third film of the popular series finds the love story intensified as Jacob openly challenges Edward (Robert Pattinson) for Bella's attention. The third film also amps up the action scenes and goes darker than the previous two Twilight installments.
At the film's LA press day, Lautner talked about how Jacob's grown, his real relationships with co-stars Stewart and Pattinson, and his favorite scene to film in Eclipse.
Taylor Lautner The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Press Conference
What was new and different for you about Eclipse?Taylor Lautner: "I was actually bummed. There was a lot more action in this picture, but for me, specifically, I am a wolf when there is any action going on. So, I was bummed that I wasn’t involved in too much. I got to kiss Bella for the first time. Yeah, so that was probably the biggest thing. That was probably the most exciting new thing."
Did you and Rob compare notes afterwards?
Taylor Lautner: "We didn’t! That would have been fun."
Is it easier for you to just keep the muscle mass on, and do you have a weakness for a certain food that you just have to have?
Taylor Lautner: "Occasionally I really want some ice cream, for sure. You will cheat a time or two. When it comes close to filming or you have a magazine photo shoot, then you really just have to stay strong and cut it out. The most interesting thing I found is that it is just as hard to maintain it as it was to put it on in the first place. Trust me, it was really hard putting it on and it is just as hard keeping it. If I am really busy and I can’t get to the gym, or if I don’t have time to eat, it just loses like that [snaps] and it takes 10 times the amount of time to put it back on again. It is tough."
Do you think your coming into this character has caused your character Jacob to come into his own as well?
Taylor Lautner: "No, I don’t know if it really has anything to do with me. It is kind of all in the books and that is what we go off of. That is exactly what the fans want to see. Jacob definitely matures quite a bit. He has been dealing with his new self now, he has come to know his new self and the situation he has be put in. He becomes frustrated in this one because he get so close all the time, and then gets told no over and over again. So it is quite a bummer, but he is persistent."
Can you talk about working more closely with Robert Pattinson in this installment?
Taylor Lautner: "Yeah. I had a scene or two in New Moon where I was able to work with Rob, and I was really excited to work with him for Eclipse. The hardest thing I found about working with Rob is I usually have to hit him in the scenes, and it is difficult. He is such a funny, nice guy. It is literally like we are doing a scene where we are yelling and screaming at each other, and he is slapping my shoulder and I’m shoving him off me. We are screaming. We are spitting in each other’s faces. Then as soon as they call cut we just bust out laughing. It is really hard to be mean to Rob."
What is your favorite scene?
Taylor Lautner: "Probably the tent scene. The tent scene is just really good because it has that intensity, but it is also pretty humorous at the same time."
There is one part where Edward asks why can’t you put a shirt on. Was that actually in the script or did the writer realize that they were totally exploiting the muscles?
Taylor Lautner: [Laughing] "I believe it actually was in the book. It definitely was in the script. When I read that for the first time, I couldn’t wait for Rob to deliver that. It was funny. It was quite obvious. Even the position I’m in. I’m like leaning up against the car with my hands behind me. It looks like waiting and flexing for her to come up. Those are the awkward scenes. When everybody is fully clothed, it is raining, and I’m just waiting there posing for them."
You have one of the best lines in the movie, telling Robert Pattinson as Edward, "I'm hotter than you." Can you tell us about that scene and how hard it was to deliver the line?
Taylor Lautner: "It is true, keeping the straight face was the tough thing. That was another line where I read it and I loved the line, but I was like, 'This is going to be so hard to deliver, and especially with a straight face.' And looking Rob in the eyes with that Edward look... It is in the tent. It was funny, but it was one of those lines that was a little difficult to say to Rob."
Why would you recommend to someone to see this movie?
Taylor Lautner: "Oh boy, where do I begin? If you like the first and second movies, then you are definitely gonna like this movie. If you haven’t seen the first or second movies, then you are still going to like it. It basically takes everything, the romance, the action, suspense, and the danger; everything in the first two movies, and [multiplies] that by five in this one. It is by far my favorite movie. It is exciting. It is very dangerous. They are at war the entire time. You still have that romance, it is even elevated because this is the height of the love triangle, but Edward and Jacob are forced to team up together to protect Bella from Victoria and Riley. This is a really long way of telling you to see the movie. [Laughing] You should see the movie."
What sort of feedback have you heard about your portrayal from the Native American community?
Taylor Lautner: "I haven’t heard too much feedback from them. Like two years ago, when we filmed Twilight, I met with some real Quileute. I just kind of wanted to get to know them before we started filming. I was going there with a pad of paper, a pencil, and I was thinking I was going to have to write down notes and transform myself into this different person. When really, I asked, 'What do you like to do during your free time?' I was expecting some different answer. They were like, 'Well, we go to the beach, we play basketball, but most of all, we like to check out girls.' I was like, 'Oh! Really? All right!' It would be interesting, definitely, to hear some feedback after the movies have come out."
