'Twilight' time — Actor hopes film leads to several sequels

Perhaps no one is rooting more for the success of the much-hyped "Twilight" movie than Taylor Lautner. The 16-year-old actor landed one of the film adaptation's most coveted roles, that of Jacob Black, the best friend of the main character, Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart).

Millions have read LDS author Stephenie Meyer's best-selling fantasy novels about the forbidden romance between Bella and Edward, an eternally young vampire.

And as those fans can tell you, Jacob is a character who becomes more important in the books and changes perhaps more than any of the others do. (He is also rumored to be a major part of a new series of spinoff books to be written by Meyer.)

"I was very lucky to get this part. I know that," Lautner said from Denver, where he was helping promote the new film. "Jacob is one of the most popular people in the books, so this is just huge for me."

Lautner explained by saying that "what Jacob goes through over the course of the four books is an amazing journey."

He says that he would "like to be able to explore that, but that's only possible if people support our movie."

"Still, I'm trying not to think about that, or get too far ahead of myself, but so far it's been a crazy ride," he continued. "And the way the tickets have been selling in advance for the film I'd have to say my chances for that are pretty good."

Ironically, Lautner wasn't swept up in the initial "Twilight" clamor and says he hadn't read the books when he first auditioned for the part. He says he didn't want to have any preconceptions about the movie and about the character.

"That's what I like to do in the audition process. I like to come in as a blank slate, where they tell me about their vision and about what they see my character doing," he said.

That strategy clearly worked in this case, because now the co-star of "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl" finds himself in his most high-profile role to date. And it's already garnered the teen a loyal following.

"I've gotten fan mail and e-mails from people all around the world telling me how much they love Jacob and how much they love me just because I'm playing him.

"That's simply crazy, because they haven't even seen what I've done with the role yet," he continued. "But I'll take it. Very gladly."

Lautner says he's still "trying to deal" with his newfound stardom but said he was most nervous about meeting Meyer herself.