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Universal Ditches ‘Stretch Armstrong’ and Taylor Lautner

A few years ago, toy and board game company Hasbro entered a massive deal with Universal to bring its products to cinematic life, but since then, the many titles set to come from that deal, including films based on Clue and Ouija, were put into turnaround. The latest to join them is a movie based on elastic action figure Stretch Armstrong, which had Twilight star Taylor Lautner attached.

Relativity Media has picked up the property, but not Lautner. The same goes for previously attached director Rob Letterman. Now under the Relativity banner, the film about the stretchy action figure looks to hit theaters on April 11, 2014.

Although Lautner’s camp insists that it was the actor's decision to leave “Stretch,” Deadline Hollywood has heard that the poor box office of Abduction, the young star's first turn as an action hero, left Universal doubtful. Even so, it was up to Hasbro to make the last call. In any case, it’s safe to say that another young actor will play the title character.

For anyone needing a Hasbro fix at the cinema, Peter Berg’s Battleship, starring Liam Neeson, Brooklyn Decker and Rihanna, hits theaters on May 18. Beyond that, however, you might be waiting awhile for another Hasbro-based film.

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