Taylor Lautner on Today : I'm shirtless in Eclipse for 50 minutes (pics + video)

Taylor Lautner, who gained over 30 pounds of muscle for the Twilight sequel New Moon,
is on-screen for over 50 minutes in Eclipse (most of it shirtless). (Photos/Summit)

Taylor Lautner appeared on NBC's Today Show June 28 to promote Twilight: Eclipse and learned he spends almost an entire hour shirtless on-screen!

"The folks at GQ magazine did some interesting number crunching," host Matt Lauer tells Taylor. "In the first Twilight, Taylor Lautner spoke a total of 239 words."

Lauer continues: "Now, as a full-fledged teen superstar, Lautner logs more than 50 minutes of screen time in the latest installment of the Twilight Saga: Eclipse as the werewolf Jacob Black."

Looking back on the incredible success of the Twilight franchise, Lautner is amazed and grateful.

"I never thought it would come close [to this]," says Taylor, 18. "I never thought it would be reality, so to look back then and be sitting here now is just mind-blowing."

'THE TIME OF MY LIFE'

Lautner says he's not worried about being typecast as a heartthrob, and is thankful for what Twilight has done for his career.

"As an actor, I do want to challenge myself to many different things, but I embrace this role and this franchise," he says. "It's done many things for me. I give all the thanks to it, and I'm having the time of my life with it."

Taylor, who worked out and ate nonstop to gain 30 pounds of rippling muscle for Eclipse, says it's his favorite installment because it's so action-oriented.

"Eclipse is my favorite of the series," says Lautner. "I feel like Eclipse takes everything about the franchise, the romance, the action, the danger, and it takes it all to the next level. It's very exciting."

'I'M JEALOUS OF MY CGI WOLF'

The athletic Taylor, who has a black belt in karate and is a good break-dancer, was jealous that the CGI (computer-generated image) werewolf version of his character did most of the action scenes.

"I was very jealous of my wolf," he laughs. "I love the action, that's the fun part. And, yeah, my wolf has all the action in this movie."

Lautner, who was recently cast as superhero Stretch Armstrong and is set to begin shooting the action film Abduction soon, is extremely grateful for the incredible camaraderie among the Twilight cast.

"Thankfully we're all very, very close, and we've just grown closer each and every film that's gone by," Taylor says of co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. "I'm very thankful for that because it provides for a better work environment on set and off set we hang out a lot."

'I WANT MY LIFE TO STAY AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE'

Despite being a Hollywood star, Lautner still does chores at the home he shares with his parents and younger sister.

"When I'm home, you know, I help out with the lawn, the garbage, dishes, everything," says Taylor, adding he wants to maintain a normal lifestyle for "as long as possible."

He explains: "It's very important to me [to have a normal home life]. I describe it as I live two lives. I have this life where I do what I do, and I have the same exact life as before and literally nothing has changed."

When asked how his family treats him the same when he returns home from filming, Lautner jokes, "[They treat me] maybe even harsher, more garbage to take out, extra mowing to do."

"Grass grows like crazy!" he laughs.

 Eclipse, which co-stars Robert Pattinson, Ashley Greene and Kristen Stewart, comes out June 30. [see slideshow below]

 See more on the Twilight stars below:

• Eclipse star Kristen Stewart: My feet are killing me from wearing heels! (pics)
• Stephenie Meyer is heavier than ever at Twilight: Eclipse premiere (photos)
• Taylor Lautner is boxing, doing fight training for action flick Abduction
• Taylor Lautner: My arms hurt after carrying Kristen Stewart all day (new trailers) 
• If I had Taylor Lautner's abs, I'd never wear a shirt! says Eclipse co-star
• Eclipse werewolves diss the Cullens: We trained harder than the vampires
  
• Robert Pattinson: I've been so lucky I fear I'll die at 30
• Taylor Lautner covers July GQ: I won't go shirtless for just any role
• Taylor Lautner: Staying ripped is hard! I lose weight so easily (photos + video)
  
• I'm not gay and I want to see Taylor Lautner shirtless! gushes director (pics)
• Kellan Lutz, Taylor Lautner & Rob Pattinson had a 'workout rivalry' (photos)