CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Sci Fi Channel wrote:E! Online reported that New Moon--the sequel to Twilight--will get a Nov. 20, 2009, release date.

Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) was previously announced as the director of the sequel, which is also based on a book by Stephenie Meyer. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are expected to return as Bella Swan and Edward Cullen.

Ashley (post: 1276117) wrote:Hmm. I loved the book, but I wonder if I'll love the movie. It took some getting used to to deal with the first movie--it was okay, but not as good as the book But I'll probably see it anyway.

Too bad Christopher Nolan isn't directing it. Bet it'd be AWESOME.

Sci Fi Channel wrote:There are reports that Summit Entertainment may be recasting the role of Native American werewolf Jacob Black for the Twilight sequel New Moon, played by Taylor Lautner in the first movie.

Entertainment Weekly reported that Lautner's agent has reached out to one of the visual-effects companies that worked on Brad Pitt's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in order to show New Moon director Chris Weitz and Summit how visual effects could create a digitally bulked-up Lautner, suggesting a possible casting change was based on Lautner's physique.

Lautner himself told SCI FI Wire and other reporters last month that he was working out in anticipation of New Moon, which revolves around the relationship between Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Jacob.

"I'm trying," Lautner said when asked if he was hitting the gym.

"I'm trying not to think about it, not getting my hopes up yet," Lautner said about the sequel while promoting Twilight. "I mean, anything can happen. But, yes, the buzz behind this is unreal and just the amp coming up to the movie."

Many fans support Lautner's casting. Summit is quick to say that casting for the character has not been decided.

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Over the last few weeks "Twilight" Nation has been thrown into disarray, first over the appointment of a new director, Chris Weitz, for the sequel and then by rampant rumors that 16-year-old Taylor Lautner is going to be similarly replaced. (One bright light of the week: We just named Twilighters, collectively, the Woman of 2008.) On Wednesday night, Lautner spoke exclusively with MTV News and insisted that reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.

"I have been working out. I've been working out since the day we finished filming 'Twilight.' I just weighed myself today; I've put on 19 pounds," the noticeably larger Lautner told us, promising that he'll be big enough to fit Stephenie Meyer's physical description of Jacob Black in "New Moon" when cameras begin rolling in 12 weeks. "I'm guaranteeing Weitz 10 more [pounds] by filming. I get to meet Chris on Friday, in two days, so I'm excited. I'm going to have lunch with him."

The news of a Lautner-Weitz sit-down will undoubtedly launch a few thousand "OME!" exclamations, as Twilighters have spent the past few days launching Web sites, petitions and other shows of support for the young star. Speaking with us at Wednesday's Hollywood Foreign Press Association Salutes Young Hollywood event, Lautner also addressed actor Michael Copon's claims that he had landed the Jacob role, insisting that Copon's Facebook declarations might be a bit premature.

"I've heard a few things," he said of Copon. "I don't really know too much to comment on it. As far as I know, I haven't been told 'no' yet, so it's still all up in the air."

In regards to the series' recent musical-chairs situation, the affable actor offered nothing but kind words for both his past and possibly future directors. "I've seen a few of [Chris Weitz's] films, and he's really talented. The same thing with Catherine [Hardwicke]; I mean, Catherine had a really interesting mind," Lautner observed. "[Weitz] has that as well, and he's very talented. I've heard a lot of good stuff about him, so I'm excited to meet him. I heard he's like a surfer dude, and that he's really laid-back and friendly. It'll be fun."

The "Twilight" heartthrob also gave us his reaction to the studio's "New Moon" press release issued Saturday, which listed his co-stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, but caused widespread speculation in its omission of Lautner's name.

"I think it's because, well, Rob and Kristen were the lead roles in 'Twilight,' so they've got to be back," he reasoned. "I don't even know if they're officially signed; maybe they are, I don't know. They just hired Weitz, and now they're just moving down the cast. All I can say is, I'm going to be ready if my number's called."

In all the chaos of the past few weeks, Lautner added, plenty of things have been exaggerated by the media. Entertainment Weekly reported this week that his agent is talking to the effects people behind "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" about demonstrating how effectively Lautner could be transformed digitally. "Nothing [along those lines] has happened, and I don't know if it will," he told us. "I think there's a lot of things that have gotten blown up that haven't really occurred. That hasn't happened. I've just been working out for awhile, and I'm ready."

Sure enough, Lautner's partially unbuttoned shirt, larger physique and beginnings of a mustache sure seem to indicate that he's ready to show Weitz how he could effectively return as grown-up Jacob Black. And the actor said that in these uncertain times, he continues to surf the "Twilight" sites and take solace in the fans' support.

"Thank you, fans. Keep going, keep working hard, and we'll see soon," he said, addressing the recent MTV poll that had Twilighters choosing him over Copon (or anyone else) by a 12-1 margin. "That's good to hear. I appreciate all the fans who are doing stuff [to show their support].

"My job for 'Twilight' was to bring 'Twilight' Jacob to life — the friendly, happy-go-lucky little Jacob," Lautner explained, looking forward to the Friday lunch that will shape the future of his career. "And 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 that I will follow through with that job."

Spirit_Wolf8356 (post: 1276566) wrote:[color="DarkOrchid"]Everything I've seen has hinted heavily at recasting Taylor. I'll be so sad if they do, because he was one of the few actors really super on board with the series. He's trying so hard to be a good Jacob, and it would be horrible to replace him. They're thinking about a...Michael Copon as a replacement. I've got one link to the article, but I read a second as well. I don't think anything is totally official yet.

Plus, once they let Taylor take off those awful extensions, he's gorgeous. *laughs*

I love the books and the movie. New Moon was my favorite, as I'm more of a werewolf girl than a vampire girl. (As if that weren't a wee bit obvious. *rolls eyes*) I'm really looking forward to New Moon, but they're pushing for such an early release I'm a little worried quality will get cut for time. It's not getting any more of a budget, and now they have fursploding werewolves to CGI. (The 150 million I believe is what it's grossed so far. The budget is still around the same as what it was.)

I've also heard a tenative rumor that they want Ben Barnes to play Aro, and that's totally not how I pictured Aro. I'm sure they're going to do oodles of make up and all, but...I just can't picture the transition.

Why, no, I don't pay much attention to Twilight. Why do you say that? [/color]

Spirit_Wolf8356 (post: 1276600) wrote:[color="DarkOrchid"]The huge Twilight fanbase also wanted Robert kicked off the film when he first got cast. I remember the explosion that was. Most of the fandom seemed to want Gaspard Ulliel for the part and pitched all kinds of fits. There was a smaller outcry about Kristen Stewart as Bella, too, as many wanted Emily Browning (Lemony Snickets Unfortunate Events) to be Bella.

Oh, I know the budget was only that. I was just saying the budget's only going up maybe a couple million more. That's one of the reason's Hardwicke was 'fired', IIRC, because she wanted a bigger budget for the project. (I'm looking for my links, but there's many to sort through.) I can pretty much guarentee you that the budget is no where near the 100 million mark, let alone 150. They're going to keep it as low budget as possible, regardless of how much Twilight made. They want the bigger return. Ah, here it is (http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/is-summit-intentionally-torpedoing-the-twilight-sequel). This article says 50 million budget, most of it to be spent on Rpattz and Kstew. They deserve a raise, is all I'm sayin. (Love the movie and books, as I said, but the fandom is batty.)

Barnes is Caspian, yes. Again, the article mention him being potentially cast as Aro has been lost in my backlog of URLs.

They've stayed pretty true to the story, because if they don't, they're going to lose the following. Actors can be eventually accepted and whatnot, but the story can't change without losing people. The only way I'm worried about it changing is if they trivialize Bella and Jacob's relationship and skip a lot of the middle section to get back to the Edward parts.

I come for the werewolves, darnit, I want them to get as much screen time as possible. [/color]

Spirit_Wolf8356 (post: 1276994) wrote:[color="DarkOrchid"] I didn't want him and Bella to end up together either. I'm...well, a weird kind of Twilight fan. I'm actually not fond of Bella at all. I think Jacob deserved much better than her.

And Breaking Dawn...is stricken from my record. Seriously. [/color]

Sci Fi Channel wrote:Looks like Taylor Lautner dodged a silver bullet: Variety reported late today that he will indeed reprise the role of Native American werewolf Jacob Black in Summit Entertainment's Twilight sequel New Moon.

As we reported earlier, Lautner was holding out hope that rumors of his replacement were false.

Sure enough, Summit and New Moon director Chris Weitz made the announcement Wednesday that Lautner would join returning castmates Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in the second installment of the vampire franchise, based on Stephenie Meyer's hit books.

In New Moon, Jacob Black becomes a central figure as Bella Swan (Stewart) is drawn into the world of the werewolves, the ancestral enemies of vampires.

Weitz acknowledged the speculation about whether Lautner could portray the character who goes through many changes physically, including growing taller and bulkier and aging 10 years. The 16-year-old Lautner has been spending time in the gym, trying to add 19 pounds of muscle. Weitz added that Lautner is "emotionally right" for the part," the trade paper reported.

New Moon set to begin production soon for a Nov. 20 release.