Breaking News: Taylor Lautner to Keep the Role of Jacob Black in New Moon!
The official statement on her website says:
January 7, 2009
Good news about New Moon from director Chris 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.
very best
Chris Weitz
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
Well, I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed. We're supposed to kind of fall in love with Jacob in New Moon and based on what I saw in Twilight there was no part of Lautner's portrayal of Jacob that I could ever find myself falling in love with...but, I could be wrong. Hopefully, Steph, Weitz, & Summit Entertainment really did choose the best Jacob Black for the job.
