With Taylor Lautner having signed up for several hundred movies since New Moon made him Hollywood’s new action star in waiting, it was inevitable he was going to have to back out of a few. Well, according to Vulture, despite the fact the first big studio role he signed up for (and which was partially responsible for others having more faith in him for other roles and his asking price going through the roof) was Paramount’s Max Steel, he’s dropped that movie so he can make Stretch Armstrong instead.
The Vulture report suggest Lautner leaving Max Steel behind wasn’t due to scheduling issues, but because he became convinced Hasbro, who are behind Armstong, is more efficient at negotiating the Hollywood maze tha Mattel, who are making Max Steel. However, it’s difficult not to feel that rumours that he’s getting an enormous paycheque for Armstrong, while his Max Steel deal was more on the level that you’d expect for a young actor who’s yet to prove himself, might have something to do with it.
To be honest though, you’d think Max Steel would be the better character for him. A young guy who gets superhero powers after an accident with nanobots is a lot cooler than a second rate Mr. Fantastic whose doll looks like a rather fey Hulk Hogan.