Taylor Lautner Fans Flip Out Over Recasting Of Sharkboy In Upcoming Sequel

Taylor Lautner fans took their frustrations to Twitter after noticing that the actor's role of Sharkboy from the 2005 film 'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl' had been recast for the 2021 Netflix sequel!

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Image Credit: Dimension Films/The Everett Collection

Some movie lovers welcome a bit of nostalgia, but a few millennials were a bit miffed after noticing that one of their favorite films from the mid-2000s was missing its original star! Taylor Lautner‘s star-making role in the film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl was recast in newly revealed images from the 2005 film’s Netflix sequel, We Can Be Heroes. Instead, the actor, 28, has been replaced by JJ Dashnaw. While a number of fans were living for this exciting new chapter in the Sharkboy and Lavagirl saga, others were less pleased to see Taylor replaced.

WECAN BE HEROES:  (L-R) TAYLOR DOOLEY as LAVAGIRL, JJ DASHNAW AS SHARKBOY. Cr. NETFLIX © 2020
Taylor Dooley as LAVAGIRL and JJ Dashnaw as Sharkboy on ‘We Can Be Heroes’ [Netflix]. 
“WHO’S THAT SHARKBOY IMPOSTER WHERE IS TAYLOR LAUTNER,” one fan emphatically asked on Twitter. Another fan chimed in, “Now what was taylor Lautner doing that was so important he couldn’t help us relive our childhoods for a second.” One Twitter user left a rather long message, detailing their frustrations. “I’m sorry but Taylor Lautner will always be THE sharkboy and Netflix should’ve done everything possible to get him out of the cave where he’s hiding,” they said, adding: “I want my full 2005 nostalgia experience!”
Fans react to Taylor Lautner’s role as Sharkboy being recast in ‘We Can Be Heroes,’ via Twitter.

Although Taylor’s legions of fans are definitely disappointed not to see him suited-up for this long-awaited sequel, audiences who were no more than kids when the 2005 film came out are no less excited, and for good reason! We Can Be Heroes follows Sharkboy and Lavagirl as adults, who now have a daughter — named Guppy — who is part shark! Taylor Dooley, 27, who originated the role of Lavagirl in 2005, reprises her role over 10 years later for the sequel, which also introduces a slew of new characters.

Fans react to Taylor Lautner’s role as Sharkboy being recast in ‘We Can Be Heroes,’ via Twitter.

Director Robert Rodriguez, who helmed the Spy Kids movies, discussed the sequel during the Collider: Directors On Directing panel for Comic-Con@Home session. “Even Sharkboy and Lavagirl even show up as superhero parents who now have a daughter who’s got shark and lava powers. And she’s, like, six,” the filmmaker teased in late July.

Taylor Lautner as Sharkboy in the 2005 film ‘The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl’ [Dimension Films/The Everett Collection].
He went on to describe the film as “an Avengers superhero team, but they all have kids.” The film’s logline shares the plot of the film, which follows the kids of superheroes who have to save their parents, and Earth, from alien invaders, per IMDb. The film, which will introduced audiences to a slew of young talent, will also have some very familiar faces to match the star power. Pedro PascalPriyanka Chopra, and Christian Slater all co-star in the film.

We Can Be Heroes premieres on Netflix on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2021.