EXCLUSIVE
"Stretch Armstrong" lives, but without Taylor Lautner.
The big-screen adaptation of the flexible, stretchable toy will finally make its way to the big screen thanks to a new partnership between Hasbro and Relativity Media.
However, the "Twilight" star will no longer be headlining the project due to scheduling conflicts, an individual with knowledge of the project confirmed to TheWrap.
A new cast will be announced shortly.
Lautner has stumbled in launching a post-"Twilight" career — the teen pin-up's recent bid for stardom, last fall's "Abduction," disappointed at the box office, grossing grossed $82 million worldwide on a $35 million budget.
Also read: Lautner's the $7.5M Teen — but Based on What?
Lautner will next appear in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2" and is on pre-production on "Incarceron."
"Stretch Armstrong" was originally in development at Universal, which was eyeing a 2012 release for the film. Lautner was on tap to earn a reported $7.5 million for the movie. He had cleared up his dance card to fit the big-budget project into his schedule, dropping out of the superhero film "Max Steel" and the extreme flying story "Northern Lights."
Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally. The film is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date.
Also read: Ab-tastic: Taylor Lautner's Millon-Dollar Muscles (Slideshow)
The film will be produced by Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh ("The Fighter"), Hasbro President and CEO Brian Goldner ("Transformers") and Bennett Schneir, senior vice president and managing director, motion pictures ("Battleship"). Relativity Co-President Tucker Tooley ("Immortals") will serve as executive producer.
Stretch Armstrong will draw its inspiration from action hero figure first launched by Hasbro in 1976 and re-launched in the 90’s. The original Stretch could be stretched over and over and always returned back to his original size.