Taylor Lautner’s fall from fame: How the Twilight hero lost Hollywood — and is now fighting back in 2025

Taylor Lautner was once one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars. After The Twilight Saga made him a household name as Jacob Black, the world expected him to dominate the film industry. Yet, more than a decade later, Lautner’s career seems frozen in time, caught between the fame that made him and the expectations that crushed him.
Critics and studios alike lost faith in him after the disastrous Abduction (2011), which flopped at the box office and earned brutal reviews. What was meant to be his breakout as an action hero instead branded him as a one-dimensional performer. The failure of the film not only hurt his reputation but also discouraged producers from taking further chances on him. Soon, roles began to dry up, and Lautner faded from the Hollywood spotlight that once burned so brightly.

While his co-stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson reinvented themselves through daring indie and arthouse projects, Lautner struggled to move beyond his werewolf image. His later appearances in Tracers, Run the Tide, and The Ridiculous 6 did little to revive interest in his acting range. Industry insiders have also pointed to his father’s heavy involvement in career negotiations, which allegedly strained relationships with agents and directors.

Lautner’s biggest challenge has been escaping the identity that made him famous. In Hollywood, being “the Twilight werewolf” became both a blessing and a curse, adored by fans, yet overlooked by filmmakers. Despite branching into TV with Scream Queens and Cuckoo, he never quite managed to shed the Jacob Black image that defined his early fame.

Now, Lautner seems ready for a second act. His upcoming mockumentary Werewolf Hunter, where he plays a version of himself, shows he’s finally embracing his past with humor. He’s also starring in the romantic comedy The Token Groomsman, which could showcase a fresh, more versatile side of him. Whether this marks a genuine comeback or another near miss, time will soon tell.