Josh Peck Recalls That He Was Amazingly “Close” To The Edward Role In ‘Twilight’ – Deadline

Even Josh Peck couldn’t see himself as the lead in Twilight.

The Drake & Josh star talked about his audition for the teen vampire romance on a recent episode of his Great Guys podcast. He claimed that he actually got “close” to playing Edward Cullen in the series before — spoiler alert — the role went to Robert Pattinson.

“I remember it’s like 2006? 7?” Peck told his cohost, Ben Soffer, and their guest, Taylor Lautner. “They’re like, ‘Audition for this movie, Twilight. It’s based on a book — it’s gonna be great.’ So I send in my tape… [for] Edward.”

A month later, the phone rang. “I’m with my manager. He goes, ‘It’s down to you and three guys. You’re close,’” Peck recalled. “I’m like, ‘Really?’ I hadn’t even had a tummy tuck yet! I’m like, ‘There’s no way. He’s gotta be so shirtless. It’s not gonna happen.’”

It didn’t.

Pattinson would go on to play the lead vampire in all five of the successful films. And when Peck finally saw Pattinson in the role, he was even more amazed that he was even considered.

“I’m like, ‘In what f—ing world were they like, “Okay, here’s what we’re thinking: Chris Hemsworth or Stanley Tucci?”‘” he said. “Like what the f—? Impossible!”

Watch the podcast chat above.