Jacob Elordi, known for his role in the ‘Euphoria’ series, expressed his criticism of the Netflix romantic comedy series ‘The Kissing Booth,’ in which he played a significant part. Elordi’s remarks included a candid admission about not initially wanting to make the movies, describing them as “ridiculous” and “not universal,” but more of an “escape”. He elaborated on his decision to take on the “bad-boy jock with washboard abs” role, indicating it was primarily out of necessity for a job. Elordi further commented on the industry’s trend of “one for them, one for me” projects, suggesting that it can lead to a lack of original ideas and a feeling of being “dead inside”.
Taylor Zakhar Perez, who joined the cast of ‘The Kissing Booth’ in its second installment, responded to Elordi’s critiques. While acknowledging Elordi’s experience, Perez expressed his thoughts, stating, “I thought it was a shame because, to my knowledge, everybody else had such a wonderful experience.” He reflected on the importance of the movies at the time of their release, considering them necessary for the audience during challenging times. Perez, who recently starred in another romantic comedy ‘Red, White, & Royal Blue,’ shared his perspective on the impact of ‘The Kissing Booth’ on fans, highlighting its significance during “such a dark time” and its ability to make people laugh and feel good.
The Diverging Career Paths of Elordi and Perez Post ‘Kissing Booth’
Following their roles in ‘The Kissing Booth,’ both Jacob Elordi and Taylor Zakhar Perez have pursued distinct career paths. Elordi has transitioned into more auteur-driven projects, with roles in films directed by Sofia Coppola and Emerald Fennell, seemingly seeking to distance himself from his streaming romantic comedy past. In contrast, Perez has continued to embrace the romantic comedy genre, as evidenced by his role in ‘Red, White, & Royal Blue’ and the comedy ‘1Up.’ He also portrayed Shane Brody in the HBO Max series ‘Minx’.
While Elordi has taken on complex characters like Nate Jacobs in ‘Euphoria’ and a role in ‘Deep Water,’ it appears that another ‘Kissing Booth’ film is unlikely. However, the possibility of Elordi and Perez crossing paths again in future projects remains open. This divergence in their career trajectories highlights the diverse paths actors can take following a shared experience in a popular film series.
