Taylor Lautner Keeps Controversial Role of Jacob Black in ‘New Moon’

BrianTT — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:25:10 -0700

CHICAGO – Fans of the “Twilight” books and movies have been clamoring for news about whether or not Taylor Lautner would reprise his role in the sequel to the massively successful film, “New Moon”. Just a small announcement that didn’t feature Lautner in the cast list in this slideshow caused unrest in the “New Moon” community over the potential of re-casting the role. Good news, Taylor fans. He’s back.

Chris Weitz, the director of “New Moon,” revealed Wednesday in a post to Stephenie Meyer’s website, “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.”

There had been questions as to whether or not Taylor Lautner would be allowed to return because his character, Jacob Black, grows significantly in physical size in “New Moon” and plays a much bigger role. MTV News recently spoke to Lautner who said that he had been bulking up in the hope that he would be brought back for the role. He said, “My job for Twilight was to bring Twilight Jacob to life - the friendly, happy-go-lucky little Jacob. My job for New Moon is completely different. I’ve been looking forward to that. I’ve been getting ready for it, and I can assure them I will follow through with that”

Taylor Lautner in “Twilight”
Photo credit: Summit Publicity

The director and Summit Entertainment agreed that Taylor Lautner can handle the role, with Chris Weitz writing, “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.”

“Twilight”, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, from director Catherine Hardwicke, has grossed $178 million domestically, putting the sequel, “New Moon,” into production immediately. Other books in the Stephenie Meyer series include “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn”.

Read our Robert Pattinson story on “Parts Per Billion” and “New Moon”.
See our 2009 Summit release slideshow with “New Moon”.
See our high-quality, 28-image “Twilight” slideshow.
Read our “Twilight” opening-weekend box-office story.
Read our “Twilight” sequel story prior to opening weekend.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

To Film ‘New Moon,’ ‘Twilight’ Star Robert Pattinson Cancels Part in ‘Parts Per Billion’

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:38:04 -0700

CHICAGO – While “Twilight” fanatics are currently busy following the drama of whether the character Jacob Black will again be played by Taylor Lautner in the film’s “New Moon” follow up, news surfaced on Tuesday on “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson to temporarily keep followers gabbing about something else.

In order to film “New Moon,” the agent of 22-year-old Pattinson on Tuesday revealed that he must bow out of his part in the much-anticipated and lesser-known film “Parts Per Billion,” which was slated to begin filming in Jan. 2009 in Los Angeles, according to MTV.

Kristen Stewart (left) as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen in “Twilight”.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment

While “Twilight” fans would much likely prefer to be deprived of Pattinson’s performance in “Parts Per Billion” if it meant he wouldn’t be able to film “New Moon,” some may especially feel neglected of what was reported to be a provocative sex scene with Olivia Thirlby from “Juno” fame.

While choosing “New Moon” (which is riding on the blockbuster fame of “Twilight”) over “Parts Per Billion” is a sign that the British actor is gravitating toward more grander film over independent fame, at least Rosario Dawson is disappointed that he’s chosen more profitable pastures.

Dawson is producing the “Parts Per Billion” indie flick and was to be Pattinson’s co-star.

“Unfortunately, the prep time and production schedule on ‘New Moon’ haven’t left enough time for Robert to work on ‘Parts Per Billion’ in the first quarter of this year,” Pattison’s agent, Nicholas Frenkel, told MTV on Tuesday.

Dennis Hopper also stars in the Brian Horiuchi-directed “Parts Per Billion,” which centers on three couples whose lives are being stirred by the same cataclysmal incident. Pattinson’s departure from “Parts Per Billion” forces a swifty recast for his role in order for the show to go on as planned.

Pattinson can also be seen in the 2008 films “Little Ashes” (where he plays Salvador Dalí; the film has a limited release on March 27, 2009) and “How to Be”. He filmed both before “Twilight” and also played Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”.

“New Moon” is slated to begin filming in March 2009 and open in theaters on Nov. 20, 2009.

Read our Taylor Lautner casting story for “New Moon”.
See our 2009 Summit release slideshow with “New Moon”.
See our high-quality, 28-image “Twilight” slideshow.
Read our “Twilight” opening-weekend box-office story.
Read our “Twilight” sequel story prior to opening weekend.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com