Back in 2011, it felt like you couldn't walk into a movie theater without seeing Alex Pettyfer's face. He was the blonde, brooding centerpiece of I Am Number Four, a film that was supposed to be the "next Twilight." It had everything: Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay producing, a hit YA book series as source material, and a lead actor who looked like he was carved out of marble.
But then, the sequel never happened.
Honestly, if you look back at the chaotic energy surrounding that release, it’s a miracle the movie got made at all. Pettyfer was 20 years old, carrying a massive budget on his shoulders, and dealing with a reputation that was starting to catch up with him. He even walked out of his first audition because he was too nervous. Imagine being a young actor and telling D.J. Caruso you just "can't do this" before even reading a line. He eventually went back, but that sort of unpredictability defined a lot of his early career.
The Mystery of the Missing Sequel
Fans are still asking about The Power of Six. It’s been fifteen years. The books went on to become a massive seven-novel saga, yet the cinematic universe stalled after one outing.
Why? It wasn't just the box office. While $150 million isn't a disaster for a $50 million budget, it wasn't the "cultural phenomenon" numbers the studio wanted. Pettyfer himself later admitted that DreamWorks had a rough run that year with movies like War Horse and Real Steel underperforming. They basically "wiped the slate clean," and I Am Number Four Alex Pettyfer was a casualty of that corporate housecleaning.
The movie also struggled with its identity. It was too sci-fi for the romance crowd and too "teen drama" for the hardcore action fans. If you’ve read the books, you know the movie changed a ton. In the book, John (Number Four) and Henri have a deep, father-son bond; in the movie, it felt kinda cold. They even messed with the "Legacies" (powers). In the book, John is fireproof, but in the movie, he basically just has glowing flashlights for hands.
Behind the Scenes Drama
You can't talk about this movie without mentioning the rumors. Pettyfer's relationship with co-star Dianna Agron was tabloid gold, but it ended spectacularly badly right as the movie premiered.
There were reports of a "heated confrontation" with Sebastian Stan and stories about Pettyfer being difficult on set. By the time Magic Mike rolled around a year later, his feud with Channing Tatum was public knowledge. Tatum reportedly didn't like Pettyfer’s attitude, and when you’re a rising star, getting on the wrong side of the industry’s most likable guy is basically career suicide.
Where is Alex Pettyfer Now?
He didn't disappear. He just stopped being "the guy."
Pettyfer shifted into indie films and directing. He moved away from the heartthrob roles that made him famous, like Beastly and Endless Love. He actually directed a film called Back Roads in 2018, which showed a much darker, more mature side of his acting.
He's also a father now. After a marriage and divorce with model Toni Garrn, he seems more focused on the "business" side of show business than the "fame" side. He’s appeared in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare recently, proving he’s still got the chops, even if he’s no longer the face of a billion-dollar franchise.
The 2026 Reboot Rumors
Is there hope for the Lorien Legacies? Actually, yeah.
In late 2024 and throughout 2025, news started circulating that Alfred Gough and Miles Millar—the guys who crushed it with Wednesday on Netflix—are working on a reboot. James Frey, the actual author behind the "Pittacus Lore" pseudonym, confirmed that a new version is in development with producer Neal Moritz.
It’s almost certainly going to be a TV series.
A show makes way more sense. You have nine aliens, a decade of lore, and a war that spans planets. You can't squeeze that into a two-hour movie starring a guy who’s worried about his hair. A streaming series gives the story room to breathe. Don't expect Pettyfer to return, though. He’s in his mid-30s now. Unless he plays Henri (which would be a pretty cool full-circle moment), that ship has sailed.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're still craving that world, skip the movie re-watch and dive into the Lorien Legacies book series. The story goes way deeper than the film ever touched, especially once Number Seven and Number Ten enter the mix. If you’re tracking the reboot, keep an eye on Netflix or Disney+ announcements, as the project is currently in the "script development" phase with the Wednesday creators.