It’s got tweens and Northwestern kids alike squealing and lining up outside movie theaters. It’s the Twilight series, with the latest hitting theaters on Friday. New Moon star Kellan Lutz sat down with North by Northwestern to talk about his most recent experiences as Emmet Cullen in the blockbuster franchise The Twilight Saga.

Had you read the books before you tried out for the part?

I did not. Once I had the role Ashley [Greene] came by and asked if I read the books and I joked it off, and she ran back and got the books. So then I quickly read those and then I realized after meeting fans that came to set why they’re so amazed, why they’re so marveled by this franchise. The books are amazing, they really are.

Do you think that your portrayal of Emmet is the same way it was in the books? What was your approach to creating your character?

It’s definitely important to stick with the cheat sheets you’re given with the books, and having Stephenie [Meyer, the author of The Twilight Saga] there to ask her questions. It’s nice to have a little help, but I also got the role for what I brought to Emmet and what I did in the auditions, I think we all try and make the character that we portray onscreen different and unique and I think that’s what separates us. It’s a cool spin to throw yourself into him.

What can fans expect from Eclipse that’s different from Twilight in general?

It’s more an action movie. I don’t think I would have seen Twilight if I wasn’t a part of it. Seeing the trailer I would have thought it was a chick flick. New Moon, right off the bat it looks like a guy-friendly movie, and that’s what it is. It’s is such a cool trailer, it just looks action-packed.

To what extent were you allowed to do your own stunts?

Obviously we all have stunt doubles, it’s kind of mandatory for insurance reasons and stuff. It’s fun doing a fight scene and seeing your stunt guy not do something too crisp, and being like “OK, just let me do it once. Just wanna fight, if I get hurt, I’ll sign off.” And I’ll do it once and they’ll be like “Thank God you did that, because that one’s the best one.”

Has there been anything you haven’t liked about the productions?

With New Moon, I didn’t like how little time I was able to be on set. I wish I was there to hang out with the cast. Kraft service always ran out of meat for me to eat. Not enough gummy bears, but no, no complaints.

How was the atmosphere on set in general?

Ashley and I are probably the closest on set, just ‘cuz of the years we’ve had as friends. We always just joke around. And then with the rest of the cast, no one’s changed, which is amazing to see. Everyone’s so down to earth…no one’s changed their numbers, or blocked the cast out. We all hang out in rooms and play board games or the guys would play the guitars. It’s a really good group of actors, very talented.

There have been some shake-ups as far as casting, and then there have been changes with directors. How is that adjusting to new cast members as well as a new director for New Moon and then Eclipse?

I don’t think one director could capture every book and turn it into a movie because they’re so different. With Catherine’s energy and art background Twilight was more an independent movie. And for the second movie, we had more funding and more a love triangle [and] more action-packed. With the CGI background that Chris has, he was a no-brainer to be picked as that director. And with the third one it’s dark, edgy. David Slade has such a mastermind way of looking at that script.

You’re talking about Rachel and Bryce Dallas Howard. They both brought an amazing energy to the screen. It was really cool to see Bryce step into those shoes. They’re hard shoes to fill when you have a fan base who fell in love with one actor who’s doing it. But she kicks butt in Eclipse.

Given the popularity of the Twilight Saga, have you been approached offset by fans or mobbed by fans?

Yeah. I’ll be walking down the street with my dog and I’ll hear a car screech and these girls jump out and they’re like “EMMET!” or “KELLAN!” And you start running…but no, the fans are adorable. There is really so much love, it’s really cool to have fans like that.

Since you’re so famous for playing a vampire, what’s your favorite vampire movie?

There’s some really cool vampires in there. Underworld with Kate Beckinsale, I just think she’s sexy, especially when she wears leather and depicts a vampire. And then The Lost Boys, you can’t go wrong. Kiefer Sutherland’s amazing in that and From Dusk Till Dawn…awesome movie.