Taylor Lautner Will Play 'Stretch Armstrong' in 3D

Deadline Hollywood and THR are reporting that Taylor Lautner has been cast as the strethcy superhero in the adaptation of the Hasbro toy "Stretch Armstrong" in development at Universal.

This isn’t just some rumor created by a "Twilight" fan who has a penchant for ripped abs – Lautner has been officially cast in the role of "Stretch Armstrong," proving that status and fame is more important than acting ability.

Here’s what Universal co-chairman, Donna Langley, had to say about the rising star and his casting as Stretch Armstrong:

“In the past two years, Taylor has emerged as a real star at the global box office. He brings the perfect balance of energy and athleticism to the role of an unlikely super hero with a fantastic super power.”

Since Lautner only had a small role to play in the first "Twilight," and his only other role that I can even think of is Sharkboy, they’re really only going on his expanded role in "New Moon" and how teenage girls everywhere swooned over him taking his shirt off every chance he could get…

But nonetheless, Lautner has a slew of other films he will be starring in including the potential franchise "Max Steel." And let’s not forget he’s starring in two more of the "Twilight" movies, "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn."

There aren’t a lot of details on what the plot of "Stretch Armstrong" will be, other than it features, “an uptight spy who stumbles across a stretching formula, which he takes and must now adjust to in everyday life and when fighting crime.”

I think Hollywood really has finally crossed the line with all of these damn toy adaptations. I mean, a "Stretch Armstrong" movie is a bad idea to begin with, but now with Lautner starring in it? I have zero excitement for this project and will be lamenting its eventual release. Oh and, as you probably guessed, it's coming in 3D as well.

That means everything I hate about 3D – i.e. things coming out of the screen at you for no reason – will be in full effect here. In order to accommodate the 3D, the movie is being pushed back from its original May 15, 2011 date to sometime in 2012. On a related note, another Hasbro toy-based movie, "Battleship," has been pushed back from its original date of August 5, 2011, to Memorial Day weekend (May 5) in 2012.

Ron Howard's partner Brian Grazer is producing and screenwriter Steve Oedekerk ("Bruce Almighty," "Evan Almighty") is working on the script.

What do you think of Taylor Lautner being cast as Stretch Armstrong? Is he right for the role or are they just choosing him to piggyback off the success of the whole "Twilight" craze? Do you agree with me about all these toy-based movies?

Expect new toys of Max Steel and Stretch Armstrong to be coming out in the next few years looking like Taylor Lautner...

More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Screen Rant, First Showing