Max Irons of 'The Host' talks 'Twilight' comparisons and being too "pale and pasty" for the part

British actor Max Irons has landed the lead role in the film The Host, claiming that he did not think he would get the part.

The Host is a sci-fi love story written by Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight. Irons plays Jared, one of the last people on Earth, who falls in love with Melanie, a human whose body is taken over by an alien.

The 27-year old revealed that upon seeing his competition, including Liam Hemsworth of The Hunger Games and Kit Harington of Games of Thrones, he had his doubts about whether or not he was suited for the part.

He told US Weekly, "I looked at these guys, all tanned, with perfect stubble and muscles. And I thought, What do they want with me? I'm pale and pasty."

He then joked, "You know, Taylor Lautner, with a body like that, he should be taking his shirt off. For me, it's not so essential."

Irons also spoke to VMAN about the Twilight comparisons, stating, “It is a very lazy comparison, because Twilight was a phenomenon unto itself. [Robert] Pattinson was chased down the streets of Paris before the films even came out. And he is doing well for himself. He has about five films with acclaimed directors lined up,” reports Hollywood Life.

Jake Abel, who plays O'Shea in The Host, added, “A lot of people expect us to knock the Twilight cast. But Taylor Lautner is a really nice kid. Robert Pattinson, I couldn’t imagine the tremendous amount of pressure he was under — and he earned my respect when I saw him fight for certain projects. Water For Elephants is a great novel, the movie is what it was. That’s not his fault. That’s the risk; we’re the face of projects.”

Watch the trailer for the film below and catch it in theaters on March 29.

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