The Jaw-Dropping Reason Taylor Lautner Was Almost Recast in The Twilight Saga

Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart

In Twilight, where vampires sparkle and werewolves charm, there's a behind-the-scenes tale that almost changed the fate of one beloved character. Brace yourselves for the jaw-dropping reason why Taylor Lautner, our one and only Jacob Black, was nearly recast in The Twilight Saga.

Taylor Lautner Spills The Tea on Call Her Daddy

In a recent revelation on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Taylor Lautner spilled the tea about the nerve-wracking moment when he received a call that turned his world upside down. "Yeah, they called me and said, 'Thank you for your participation, but we are recasting you for the rest of the franchise,'" Lautner shared, sending shockwaves through our Twilight-loving hearts.

In the books, Jacob transforms from a scrawny 16-year-old reminiscing over mud pies with Bella to a hunky, mature-looking heart throb (thanks to supernatural werewolf puberty). Little did we know, this metamorphosis almost cost Lautner his role in the franchise. Imagine a Twilight without those beefy werewolf abs – unfathomable, right?

Who Else Could've Played Jacob Black?

As it turns out, the threat of recasting came when director Chris Weitz decided to explore new options for the role of Jacob Black. Actor Michael Copon made a very public play for the gig, leaving fans on edge about the fate of Lautner's character.

How Did Taylor Lautner Reprise His Role as Jacob Black?

As time would soon tell, Taylor Lautner proved he's not just a pretty face but a dedicated actor willing to fight for his role. He hit the gym, sculpting his physique into the wolfish charm we all know and love. His determination paid off when he successfully re-auditioned, securing his spot in the Twilight universe.

It wasn't all smooth sailing, though. Lautner had to face the casting directors once again, but this time, he had a secret weapon – Kristen Stewart. The Bella Swan herself supported Lautner, insisting, "You're not reading with any casting director, you're reading with me." Maybe there is a universe where Bella and Jacob are endgame.

Can you imagine a Twilight without Taylor Lautner's iconic line, "Bella, Where Have You Been Loca?" We shudder at the thought! While some argue that a recast wouldn't have altered the script, we can't deny the sheer iconic nature of Lautner's delivery.

This conversation sheds light on Hollywood's beauty standards and the pressure on actors to physically evolve alongside their characters. Lautner opened up about his journey, sharing, "I'd been, like, hardcore working out for about 9 months and had added 20-25 pounds of muscle by that point, and, well, they were surprised."

In the end, Lautner's gains not only saved Jacob but also gave us a swoon-worthy werewolf. We're eternally grateful for Kristen Stewart's support and Lautner's dedication to embodying the spirit of Jacob Black. The Twilight Saga remains intact, and our hearts continue to beat for Team Jacob.

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Lead Photo: Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment.

In Mother of the Bride (which you can watch on Netflix now!), Brooke Shields' Lana is surprised to learn her daughter Emma (Miranda Cosgrove) is getting married in Thailand — but she's even more surprised when she finds out Emma's future father-in-law (Benjamin Bratt) is the man who broke her heart in college. Naturally, I had to ask the cast for their best advice on running into an ex!

"I think being a decent and kind person is the first thing that you should try to do," Sean Teale, who plays Emma's fiancé RJ, says. "Keep it light if it's a stressful situation because that's the best way through anything is just being kind and decent, and then you can go away feeling okay about it."

"Yeah, I would say remain calm, try not to ramble because I've run into an ex before at the movies and yeah, I rambled," Miranda adds.

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Miranda Cosgrove & Sean Teale Hung Out With Elephants During “Mother of the Bride”

Not only does Lana have to navigate her relationship drama, but she also has to deal with the fact Emma's wedding is totally taken over by social media, a concept that was really appealing to Brooke Shields from the beginning.

"It has to unfold, not necessarily in the way that it would have organically unfolded with a mother and her only daughter going to pick out the dress and going to plan the napkins and all those things that you sort of dream about doing for your daughter," Brooke says. "So that was a really interesting thing, for that to be usurped and sort of [replaced with] somebody else's ideas."

"The script I read, [Emma's] vocation was creating this amazing website that all the sponsors were excited about," Benjamin Bratt says. "But over the course of shooting it, I think the filmmakers recognized that it's not about websites anymore, it's actually about TikTok and social media."

Ironically, the cast didn't find themselves online too much during filming! "I used my phone a lot less than I would have," Sean Teale says. "Especially during the shoot, we spent our whole time messing around if we weren't working."

"Especially with the time change too," Miranda Cosgrove adds. "It took a while to get used to that. So it kind of just makes you feel like you're off the grid. Being in Thailand was like a little getaway."

The fact that Emma is basically a social media star means I HAD to ask Miranda about iCarly, and whether Emma and Carly would get along. "I definitely think that they would be super close," she agrees. "But I think that Emma would probably wanna, like, manage Carly or something. Like she'd wanna manage her social media and come up with ideas and stuff for her channel."

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Brooke Shields Spills On Working With Chad Michael Murray For Mother of the Bride

Miranda Cosgrove (and Brooke Shields for that matter) isn't the only member of the cast who's experienced the limelight from a young age. The cast also includes Chad Michael Murray, and as a One Tree Hill and A Cinderella Story STAN, I had to ask what it was like working with the Gilmore Girls actor. "You know what, I'm like 'Those abs have got to be painted on,'" Brooke jokes. "No, you know what was amazing was seeing him with his family and his stunning wife...It's picture perfect."

"[The story is about] that bond between parents and children, and many of us, including Chad, are kind of on board with it from our own personal experiences," Benjamin Bratt says. "A rom-com doesn't really succeed unless it has that very delicate, hard-to-achieve balance of outrageous humor that's gonna make you laugh out loud and real humanity."

"Brooke is...one of the most generous kind, empathetic, inclusive, enthusiastic actors I've ever worked with," he continues. "She loves what she's doing, she's always checking in with everyone, not just with other actors, but with the craft service person, 'Are you okay?' She's so maternal in that way. And it's really not an exaggeration, but it creates an environment where you really feel supported."

"For me, it's like, ok, it's pretty great to have Chad and Benjamin vying for your attention," Brooke adds. "To be this age of an actress and sort of be like, 'Oh my God, not one but two of them get to fight for me?' Like, that's sweet and funny."

"I have worked with men in the past and they're threatened by a female lead or there's a delicate nature to it," she continues more seriously. "It's tricky. And you see these two beautiful men who take their job really seriously bring brilliant nuance to the dramatic scenes, the funny scenes, all of that, who are okay also being a bit more of an object of desire as well. I mean, the slow motion of [Chad] putting spray on his body and [Benjamin] coming out of the shower, it's something that you don't see a lot, you usually see it in the reverse."

"Feel free to objectify any time," Benjamin jokes. "If Brooke is gonna [do it] I have zero issue with that."

Watch Mother of the Bride on Netflix now, and check out the rest of this year's summer movies!

Lead image via Netflix

10 Things I Hate About You and The Office fans listen up! There's a new project coming to Netflix from Kate Hudson and Mindy Kaling, and you NEED to know about it. Just like the best female-led TV shows, Running Point promises to be empowering, hilarious, and just a lot of fun. Keep reading for everything you need to know about the new TV show.

What is Running Point about?

Image via Netflix

This new TV show follows Isla Gordon (played by Kate Hudson), who becomes President of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team after a scandal means her brother has to retire. In the male-dominated world of sports, Isla will have to prove to everyone around her — her brothers, the board, and the fans — that she can balance work AND play.

When does Running Point come out?

Image via Netflix

Running Point is coming to Netflix in 2025.

Who's in the Running Point cast?

Image via Netflix

Running Point stars Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Roberto Sanchez, Uche Agada, and Dane DiLiegro.

I am so excited to see another show written by Mindy Kaling, especially one that stars Brenda Song and Kate Hudson! Let us know what you're currently binge watching on Facebook.

Lead image via Netflix

Just like fantasy stories can transport us to new worlds, period dramas are one way to get a whole new (er, old) glimpse of the world you wouldn't see otherwise. Just like contemporary films, period dramas have their fair share of relationship drama and scandal, with some amazing outfits to boot. After you've watched (and rewatched) season 3 of Bridgerton, add one — or better yet, all — of these picks to your watchlist! Once you've figured out what you're pressing play on first, read up on why The Bridgerton Cast Is “Obsessed” With Claudia Jessie.

Atonement — Stream on Prime Video

Image via Universal Pictures

Every time I talk to my team here at Brit + Co about their favorite period dramas, Atonement always makes the list. And for good reason! It's an emotional, sweeping piece that feels like different genres as it moves from family drama to romance to a war epic. The cast includes names like Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, and Keira Knightley.

Little Women — Stream on Hulu

Image via Sony Pictures

Everyone can love this story, even if you don't have sisters — although being a sister has definitely made me love it even more. There are two versions I recommend: the 1994 version with Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, and Kirsten Dunst, or Greta Gerwig's 2019 version with Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, and Emma Watson.

In my opinion, Greta's version is a little bit more thought-provoking for the viewer, but between both film's arcs, I prefer the 1994 film's linear structure. You can't go wrong with either movie, so why not watch both?

Emily — Stream on Paramount+ With Showtime

Image via Bleecker Street

My Letterboxd review after seeing Emily in theaters basically called this family the English, more tragic version of Little Women's March sisters. The celebration of creativity and identity feel even more powerful against the darker aesthetic and all of the painful experiences Emily Brontë lives through. Plus, it has one of the most emotional scores of 2023 that I've had on repeat ever since I watched it!

Mr. Malcolm's List — Stream on Paramount+ With Showtime

Image via Bleecker Street

When Julia Thistlewaite gets rejected by London's most eligible bachelor (the titular Mr. Malcolm), she decides to turn her friend into his ideal match, and get a little bit of revenge while she's at it. Anyone who loves Bridgerton's costumes (and Princess Diana's revenge dress) is gonna want to add this to their queue.

Pride & Prejudice — Rent on Amazon Prime

Image via Focus Features

Avid fans of Jane Austen's book (including yours truly) will likely give you two recommendations that each have their own viral scene: Colin Firth's lake diving in the 1995 BBC mini series or Matthew MacFadyen's hand flex after helping Keira Knightley into a carriage in the 2005 film. All jokes aside, both titles are wonderful celebrations of the story!

Belle — Stream on Max

Image via Searchlight Pictures

In this political, historical romance, Belle is the illegitimate, biracial daughter of a British admiral who's raised by her uncle. As she grows up alongside her cousin, Belle questions her identity as she realizes she belongs with neither the servants nor the family. And when she meets John, she becomes in integral part of the abolitionist movement in England.

Downton Abbey — Stream on Peacock

Image via PBS/NBC

If you love period pieces but prefer a slower pace, I'd recommend Downton Abbey. The stakes are high and some viewers still haven't gotten over the death of their favorite character (I'm talking about myself here), but I don't think it's as overstimulating as a lot of other dramas involving war, death, and relationships. Plus you literally CANNOT go wrong with Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess. The studio just announced a third movie, so now is the perfect time to start the series!

Becoming Jane — Rent on Amazon Prime

Image via Disney/Miramax

James McAvoy makes the list again with this semi-biographical film on Jane Austen's life. One of the best parts of any historical drama is when the main couple dances at a ball, and Becoming Jane has one of my favorite dances of all time. Fans of the author criticized the film when it came out, but if you go into it with an open mind, it's very enjoyable (and might just make you cry, too).

Marie Antoinette — Stream on Max

Image via Columbia Pictures

I finally watched Sofia Coppola's iconic film for the first time, and it was as much a feast for the eyes as I'd hoped. Kirsten Dunst stuns as the infamous queen, and in addition to the textured, maximalist visuals, the story did make me think about Marie Antoinette in a new way. Considering I've been obsessed with her since middle school, that's saying something!

Emma — Stream on Prime Video

Image via Focus Features

If you love the visuals in Marie Antoinette, then I'm pretty sure you'll love this 2020 Jane Austen retelling. Every detail of the movie feels like its own piece of art (even the physical blocking and movements of the actors feels like a dance), and they all come together to create something cohesive, beautiful, and fun. You can also go for Gwyneth Paltrow's 1996 version or Clueless, which was inspired by Austen's book.

Sense and Sensibility — Rent on Amazon Prime

Image via Columbia Pictures

With names like Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant, this movie has always felt wildly underrated, so consider this my official plea asking you to watch it. It's got everything: Family! Drama! True love! Taylor Swift also said during her Tribeca Film Festival talk in 2022 that it inspired her album Evermore, so there's that.

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? — Stream on BritBox

Image via BritBox

I love this miniseries so much that I watch it every year. At this point, it's a tradition! Lucy Boynton and Will Poulter are so fun together, and their banter will leave rom-com lovers giggling and kicking their feet. Plus the 1930s fashions are just SO good.

Let us know what your favorite period dramas are in the comments, and check out the 2024 Movies you can look forward to this year!

Lead image via Sony Pictures

This post has been updated.

Memorial Day weekend is nigh, and in the midst of planning your epic BBQ spread and a slew of themed cocktails, it's also time to start noting the Memorial Day sales you'll be shopping for a much-needed summer refresh. We've got the scoop on savings in just about every category – from beauty to home decor to fashion – so you know exactly when and where to save big.

Scroll on for the Memorial Day sales we're most excited about for 2024, and make sure to come back here for additional sale info!

Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum

Target

What: Items up to 60% off

When: May 24-27

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer

Amazon

What: Deals on everything from home goods to decor

When: Now through Memorial Day

Naturepedic

  • 20% Off Sitewide with code MEMORIAL20
  • May 15-29

Casper

  • Up to 30% off everything
  • May 8-June 4

Purple Mattress

Mila Mirror

Anthropologie Home

What: Savings on home goods

When: May 21-27

Peony Vase Thank You Card Set

Papier

What: 15% off stationery & photo books

When: May 22-29

Sherpa Deluxe Black Guarenteed On Board Soft Sided Dog & Cat Carrier

Petco

What: BOGO 50% off select summer products and 20% off select sherpa carriersWhen: May 24-27

Dallas IV Hat

Hood

What: 25% off sitewide with code USA25

When: May 23-27

CZ Crescent with Stars Necklace

Sterling Forever

What: 20% off sitewide with code SUMMER20

When: May 24-28

Stemless Wine Chiller Pair

VoChill

What: 20% off sitewide

When: May 17-27

The Coated Pan

Material Kitchen

What: 20% off (*promo excludes bundles and collaborations)

When: May 23-27

EOS Classic Organic Mattress

Naturepedic

What: 20% off sitewide with code MEMORIAL20

When: May 15-29

Pierrette Dress

SAYLOR

What: Extra 15% off sale styles with code MDAY24

When: May 27

Sea Green Pleated Tennis Skirt

Gold Hinge

What: 25% off sitewide with code MDAY25

When: May 23-27

Calista FAUXblo Thermal Blowout Brush

Calista

What: 20% off sitewide

When: May 24

CAROL Bike

CAROL Bike

What: Take $200 off sitewide on all CAROL bikes

When: May 24-30

Cartolina Louise Cover-Up

Cartolina

What: 30% off sitewide

When: May 22-28

Carve Designs Zella Mesh Pullover

Carve Designs

What: BOGO red, white, and blue swim; buy 1 swimsuit, get one swimsuit 50% off

When: May 23-27

Essentia Stratami Organic Mattress

Essentia

What: 25% off sitewide, plus receive free GOTS Certified Organic Cotton Sheets with qualifying mattress purchases

When: May 13-31

Harper Wilde Bliss Scoop Bralette

Harper Wilde

What: 20% off sitewide

When: May 24-27

MARLOWE. Soap Bar Discovery Gift Set

MARLOWE.

What: 20% off sitewide

When: May 27

Pura 4 Diffuser

Pura

What: 25% off sitewide through code only (subscriber early access: May 23-27), 25% off sitewide, plus subscribe to the Pura V4 and get a free car set

When: May 21-22

Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30

Vacation

What: 20% off sitewide, plus get a free boat keychain or pen on orders over $65 (while supplies last)

When: May 24-27

Custom Pet Portrait Phone Case

West & Willow

What: 20% off sitewide with code MDAY

When: May 20-28

Olsen Leather Lounge Chair

Industry West

What: 20% off sitewide with code Memorial20

When: May 21-31

Claira Dress

Hutch

What: Additional 35% off all final sale styles. (No returns or exchanges with discounts automatically applied at checkout.)

When: May 23-27

3 Seat Chaise Couch in Coconut

Homebody

What: 15% off sitewide with code HONOR

When: May 16-27

Blush & Bronze Hydro-Blur Cheek Duo

Stila Cosmetics

What: 20% off orders $0 to $49 with code MDAY20, 25% off orders $50 to $99 with code MDAY25, 30% off orders of $100+ with code MDAY30

When: May 27

Tree Flyer 2

Allbirds

What: 20% off select styles online

When: May 13-20

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on these Memorial Day sales + all the best deals!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

After all of summer's daylong adventures spent outside in the heat, the very last thing you want to do is fire up the oven for dinner. These 15 light summer meals come to the rescue with fresh ingredients, minimal prep work and cook time, plus the perfect serving sizes so you don't feel weighed down one bit.

Niçoise Salad

Salads are perhaps the most expected light summer meals, but this one totally defies expectations by being packed with tons of nutritious goodies like tomatoes, green beans, olives, egg, and tuna. (via Brit + Co)

Mediterranean Chicken Skewers

The trick to making these gorgeous Mediterranean chicken skewers is letting the marinade, well, marinate for up to 24 hours. This period of letting the flavors soak in is the most labor-intensive part of this recipe – the actual grilling part will only last 10-12 minutes! Serve with some fresh veg to really get in the groove. (via Brit + Co)

Greek Salad

This no-cook salad makes the ultimate side dish for backyard get-togethers! It's bursting with flavor from crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, salty olives, and feta cheese. The tangy dressing is a simple mix of olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper – all measured to your liking. (via Brit + Co)

Pineapple Al Pastor Tacos

Pineapple is the prime fruit for summer, so we'll take any excuse to incorporate it into our recipes! A strong, flavorful al pastor marinade generously coats some chicken before getting quickly grilled and layered with pineapple salsa in this light summer recipe. Goes exceptionally well with an ice-cold beer or tequila cocktails! (via Brit + Co)

California Black Bean Burgers

All you need to craft these uber-fresh (and way better than store-bought) veggie burgers is a food processor and the hearty mix of beans, grains, and spices. Forewarning, you will need to use the oven to cook 'em, albeit at a low temperature of 250°F. (via Brit + Co)

Vegan Chickpea Cranberry Lettuce Wraps

Sometimes chowing down on meat feels like too hard a chore, especially in the scorching-hot summer. That's where vegan recipes like this one come in! No cooking is required for the chickpea-cranberry filling that gets stuffed into crisp romaine wraps. These make an excellent light lunch or even mid-day snack! (via Brit + Co)

Honey-Lemon Chicken Thighs

Although these chicken thighs require a good amount of time in the skillet, you could easily save yourself the time and effort by meal prepping a ton of pieces to eat on throughout the week. The honey-lemon flavors are *not* to be missed, and once cooked, you can enjoy this protein hot or cold. (via Brit + Co)

Spring Mix Salad with Lemon Baked Tofu

This crunchy salad is topped with perhaps the tastiest baked tofu bits around. They get wonderfully seasoned with ginger, lemon, miso, mustard, and other spices, all while supplying a good serving of plant-based protein. The salad bed itself is also bulked up with quinoa, avocado, and edamame. (via Brit + Co)

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta

If you're hungry for something a bit heartier, the Instant Pot can be a big helper in achieving satisfying summer meals since it's relatively hands-off. This one-pot pasta dish is pressure cooked to cheesy perfection for only 5 minutes, and delivers a delicious garlicky, umami-y flavor you'll wanna eat again and again. (via Brit + Co)

Watermelon Feta Mint Salad

Watermelon, cucumber, feta cheese, and fresh mint is an underrated combo that you just *have* to try out this season. This salad recipe makes a great side for any and all light summer meals, or you could simply serve it as the main course just as easily! (via The Edgy Veg)

Vegan Summer Rolls

Any food served in wrap form gets our stamp of approval, and these vegan rolls stuffed with miso-glazed tofu pieces and plenty of colorful veggies are simply ahh-mazing. They are also super adaptable based on you and your family's personal preferences. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Make some bomb Caesar salad, toss some freshly-cooked pasta in that bad boy, and boom – you've got yourself one of the easiest, tastiest light summer meals out there. You don't necessarily need to craft your own dressing, either, if you don't want to. Just go with the best store-bought stuff to save yourself some time this summer, and it'll be just as good! (via Completely Delicious)

Asian Noodle Salad in Peanut Dressing

You certainly won't miss out on your daily serving of veggies with this Asian-inspired noodle salad! The best part is the carrots, radishes, and cabbage are all thinly sliced and julienned so they kind of hide in between and blend in with the egg noodles. The peanut sauce that drenches every inch of this dish is to die for. (via Vikalinka)

Quinoa, Cherry & Goat Cheese Salad

Recipes that have both savory and sweet elements to them are fantastic for switching up your usual meal routine. This summer-ready quinoa salad brimming with cherries, goat cheese, and mint is just the thing you need for a healthy and fun-to-eat lunch or dinner this season! (via Averie Cooks)

Tuscan Bean Salad

Bean salads are a nice summer lunch staple to hang onto since they're heavy on protein content. You won't need to turn on a single appliance to make this one that assumes the best Tuscan flavors – cannellini beans, tomatoes, parsley, and onion are tossed together and served with a perfectly zesty dressing. If you wish to bulk up your bite even more, consider adding sliced salami or diced chicken to the mix! (via Earthly Provisions)

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is worthy of any summer BBQs, potlucks, or dinner parties you have in the pipeline. It's definitely on the more filling side, but still light enough for the season since you can serve it cold. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

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Lead image via Crowded Kitchen.