Taylor Lautner Reflects onSharkboy and LavagirlTurning 20: 'It's Stood the Test of Time' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Taylor Lautner.Photo:Columbia Pictures/Alamy; Kevin Winter/Getty

Columbia Pictures/Alamy; Kevin Winter/Getty

Taylor Lautner’s presence in the pop culture landscape has stood the test of time.

In the past two decades, he has starred as the iconic Jacob Black in theTwilight Saga, made a surprise appearance in aTaylor Swift music videoand now co-hostsThe Squeezepodcast with his wifeTay Lautner(neé Dome).

But before he was the brooding werewolf trapped in a love triangle with a vampire or doingbackflips on stage, Taylor starred inThe Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl,his first major acting role in 2005.

In the movie, a young Max (Cayden Boyd) ventures into the action-packed universe of Sharkboy (Lautner) and Lavagirl (Taylor Dooley) as they fight to save the universe from evil forces.

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl with Taylor Lautner and Taylor Dooley.Columbia/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock

Columbia/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock

Speaking to PEOPLE as two of the 2024 Creators of the Year, the Lautners reflect on Taylor’s breakout role ahead of the film’s 20th anniversary in June 2025.

“It does feel crazy,” Taylor says as he reflects on the two decades that have passed sinceSharkboy and Lavagirl’s release. During that time, he reveals he’s kept in touch with a handful of his costars, including seeing “Cayden Boyd a couple of times" and having “Sasha Pieterseon the podcast” back inAugust 2023.

During his podcast interview with Pieterse, Taylor joked thatSharkboy and Lavagirlis the film that “never [seems to go] away.” Pieterse added to that sentiment and shared how surprised she is when “full-grown” adults come up and reminisce about the film with her. She also spoke about watching the film with her son Hendrix for the first time, noting, “He had no idea that it was me [in the film]. But it kept his attention for quite a while, which was good.”

Tay — who was also a massive fan ofSharkboy and Lavagirlgrowing up — recalls “buying the DVD with the red and blue 3D glasses from Blockbuster” and watching it at home for the first time.

“I lovedSharkboy and Lavagirl. What kid didn’t?” Tay tells PEOPLE. “I don’t know what they put in that movie, but even to this day, kids are just in love with it. It just is crazy how much it just keeps being relevant, even though it’s been so long. They put some magic sauce in there.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.While there hasn’t been an official remake ofSharkboy and Lavagirl,the iconic characters made an appearance in the Netflix filmWe Can Be Heroesin 2021, which featured their daughter Guppy and focused on her and 11 other young superheroes. While Dooley reprised her role as Lavagirl for a small part in the film, Taylor did not end up returning as Sharkboy.

However, despite not being a part ofWe Can Be Heroes,Sharkboy and Lavagirlcontinues to hold a special place in Taylor’s heart and he believes that the film has definitely “stood the test of time.”

“It’s funny because as an adult you go back and you watch it right now and you’re like, ‘Wow, those graphics were pretty rough.’ But other than that, there’s something in it that’s [so special].”

source: people.com