Taylor Lautner, star of the blockbuster film, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” gives his thoughts on the film and his character, always acting shirtless, and vampire vs. werewolf showdowns, on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Thursday, July 1.
Letterman asked Lautner if Kristen Stewart’s character, Bella, is more interested in his character, werewolf Jacob, or Robert Pattinson’s vampire, Edward. “That’s a very good question,” the actor replied. “She’s interested in us in different ways.” “Like you’re her best friend kind of interest, that sort of thing?” Letterman asked. “Yeah, but it’s a little more than that,” continued Lautner. “It’s kind of pushing the limit a little bit.” “Yeah, yeah, yeah – life is so complicated for today’s teens,” Letterman joked, and Lautner replied, “That is true.”
Letterman also noticed that Lautner always has his shirt off in the movies, and held up photos of a recent GQ cover story to illustrate his point. “Was that your idea?” Letterman asked. “No, it wasn’t,” Lautner laughed. “No, it’s the books… He’s a werewolf, and when you transform into a werewolf, apparently all your clothes tear off,” he added. “Well, I can see that,” Letterman joked. “So, I mean, when they tear off,” Lautner said, “you’re left with nothing, but out of courtesy, we pack little jeans shorts throughout the forest and we throw those on.” “Yeah, that’s right,” Letterman joked, “because you don’t want to make a fool of yourself.”
In a head-to-head matchup, Letterman asked the actor who would win in a fight, the vampire or the werewolf. Letterman gives the edge to the vampire since the vampire’s first move would be right to the throat, “and that would disable anybody, really, even a werewolf, right?” “If they’re quick enough,” said Lautner, but touted the werewolf’s special powers. “We’re very strong,” Lautner said, “We are very fast… and we work as a pack, that’s kind of our thing.” But one-on-one, Lautner thinks “it’d be a tough call.” Letterman pointed out, “But, if the werewolf had hydrophobia,” better known as rabies, “then I think the werewolf – you’ve got to give the odds to the werewolf on that. Give the nod to the werewolf. Yeah, because a werewolf with rabies…you want no part of that, am I right?”
Also on the show, director Barry Sonnenfeld brings along barbecued ribs that he spent six hours grilling for Letterman as a special treat. Lautner’s and Sonnenfeld’s entire interviews can be seen on the LATE SHOW tonight (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN is a production of Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Barbara Gaines, Matt Roberts, Jude Brennan, Maria Pope, Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel and Rob Burnett are the executive producers.