Taylor Lautner to Howl at the New Moon!
Posted 01.07.09 by reelz
Taylor Lautner, the teen heartthrob who played pre-pubescent werewolf Jacob Black in Twilight will indeed be kept on for the sequel New Moon -- this according to StephanieMeyer.com, the author's official website.
Earlier rumors circulated that Summit would cut Lautner loose because of his lanky and youthful look. In New Moon, Jacob undergoes a feral transformation which requires a radical change in the character -- going from fun-loving youngling into hot and hairy hulk, but activist Twilighter's have lobbied hard for the movie company to keep Lautner, and the 16-year-old will have packed on nearly 30 pounds for the part by March -- which is when shooting starts.
"Jacob is a totally different character in New Moon," Melissa Rosenberg, screenwriter of both Twilight films, told Entertainment Weekly. "He's a foot taller and huge—and he's supposed to look 25. It's really a question of whether or not the same actor can play the role." Rosenberg is quick to add, however, that "everyone would love to keep him. We all think he's the loveliest person ever."
The news that Summit would make their decision this week was good as gold, and the announcement was made by New Moon director Christopher Weitz:
I'm very happy to announce that Taylor Lautner will be playing Jacob Black in New Moon and that he's doing so with the enthusiastic support of Summit Entertainment, the producers, and Stephenie Meyer.
The characters in Stephenie's books go through extraordinary changes of circumstance and also appearance; so it is not surprising that there has been speculation about whether the same actor would portray a character who changes in so many surprising ways throughout the series. But it was my first instinct that Taylor was, is, and should be Jacob, and that the books would be best served by the actor who is emotionally right for the part. I think that fans of Twilight the book and the movie will be surprised by the Jacob Black that Taylor will bring to the screen in New Moon; and I'm looking forward to working with him and the rest of the cast in realizing the film. --- Chris Weitz
Then of course Stephenie chimes in with her two cents:
I'd just like to add that I was very much a part of this decision. My first priority was always what was best for New Moon -- what was going to give us the best possible movie. I'm truly thrilled that Taylor was the one who proved to the director, to Summit, and to me that he is the best possible Jacob we could have. And I'm very much looking forward to seeing what he's going to bring to Jacob's character this year. -- Steph