As thousands of Twilighters walked around the Con wearing Burger King crowns that showed their support for either Team Edward or Team Jacob, 17-year-old Lautner knew the pressure was on. Not even a year ago, Robert Pattinson and Kristen created a rare chemistry that made them superstars, as they mixed their youthful good looks with the sort of classic romance that made the grandparents of their fans swoon over Bogey and Bacall, Tracy and Hepburn or Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. Now he was in San Diego to convince fans that he could accomplish the same feat for "New Moon."
"It's not tough when you're working with someone like this," Lautner insisted, moments after KStew responded to the chemistry question by leaning over and fake-kissing the hunky actor who packed on more than 30 pounds of muscle for the sequel. "[Stewart] is extremely talented."
"And it's such a different relationship," added Stewart, who couldn't possibly look any more anti-Bella these days as she finishes up work on her "Runaways" biopic about rocker Joan Jett, with short black hair and a Minor Threat T-shirt as her Comic-Con attire. "It's entirely original."
As those who've memorized every word of Stephenie Meyer's novels know, the Bella-Jacob chemistry is indeed entirely different from what makes the Bella-Edward moments leap off the page with passion. It's sweeter, more innocent, more playful — but if the "Twilight" films are to be as successful as the novels, then the pressure is on Stewart and Lautner to create the same "Which man will she choose?" drama heading into next year's "Eclipse."
"[Bella and Jacob] are light," explained Stewart, whose playful kiss may have given us a "New Moon" preview. "They actually have fun with each other."
And judging by the rapturous response they got at the Con, Taylor and Kristen had a lot of fun this week as well. "We get along really, really, really well," Lautner said of his time with Stewart. "It was fun; we had a great time on the set."
