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Lautner Returns as Jacob in Twilight Sequel ‘New Moon’, Official Synopsis

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Vampire, Werewolves…. the TWILIGHT franchise is in fact horror, no debate necessary. So thus continues our coverage of the second adaptation, New Moon, which is aiming for release November 20, 2009. Today the first official casting news came in for the film, which will now be helmed by Chris Weitz (replacing Catherine Hardwicke). Read on to see who will be in search of virgin blood.
Taylor Lautner returns as  Jacob in TWILIGHT: NEW MOONFans can rejoice as the werewolf will not morph (into a new actor) as after much speculation and consternation among online fans of “Twilight,” Summit and director Chris Weitz said Wednesday they will bring back Taylor Lautner to play the werewolf Jacob Black in “Twilight” sequel “New Moon.”

The character has a relatively minor role in the first pic but a significantly larger one in the second, as he develops a romantic relationship with female protagonist Bella (Kristen Stewart).

With the Jacob character looking older and bulkier in “New Moon” as he goes through physiological changes, there had been reports that Lautner may be replaced. The actor was said to be gaining weight as part of his bid to keep the part.

Coincidentally, Robert Pattinson himself also faced some backlash from the fan community when he was first brought on to play Edward, with some saying he was actually too bulky for the part.

Still, it’s unclear how big Lautner’s role will be in the new movie, which is being fast-tracked to come out in November. While the role of Edward is considerably smaller in the “New Moon” novel, the script is expected to boost his role to allow for more screentime for Pattinson, who is seen as key to the success of “Twilight.”

Weitz, who came on to helm the second pic after Summit and Catherine Hardwicke could not reach an agreement, acknowledged the size issue but said Lautner was ultimately the best choice.

“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,” Weitz wrote in a letter posted on author Stephenie Meyer’s Web site. “But it was my first instinct that Taylor was, is, and should be Jacob.”

Here’s the official synopsis: In NEW MOON, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested.

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Adds “Chucky” Actor Teo Briones and More to Lead Cast

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Chucky Actor Teo Briones
Pictured: Teo Briones in "Chucky" Season Two

The Final Destination franchise is returning to life with Final Destination: Bloodlines. With filming now underway, THR reports that three actors have joined the lead cast, including “Chucky” actor Teo Briones.

Brec Bassinger (“Stargirl”) and Kaitlyn Santa Juana (The Friendship Game) join Teo Briones, who played Junior Wheeler in season two of “Chucky,” as the leads in the sixth installment of the horror franchise.

Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein (Freaks) are directing the fresh installment that also includes Richard Harmon (“The 100”, Grave Encounters 2), Anna Lore, Owen Patrick Joyner, Max Lloyd-Jones (The Book Of Boba Fett), Rya Kihlstedt (Obi Wan Kenobi), and Tinpo Lee (The Manor) among the cast.

Production is now underway in Vancouver.

What can we expect from the upcoming Final Destination 6? Speaking with Collider, franchise creator Jeffrey Reddick offered up an intriguing (and mysterious) tease last year.

“This film dives into the film in such a unique way that it attacks it from a different angle so you don’t feel like, ‘Oh, there’s an amazing setup and then there’s gonna be one wrinkle that can potentially save you all that you have to kind of make a moral choice about or do to solve it.’ There’s an expansion of the universe that – I’m being so careful,” Reddick teased.

Reddick continued, “It kind of unearths a whole deep layer to the story that kind of, yes, makes it really, really interesting.”

Final Destination: Bloodlines is written by Lori Evans Taylor (“Wicked Wicked Games”) and Guy Busick (Scream), with Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home) producing.

Producers on the new movie for New Line Cinema also include Dianne McGunigle (Cop Car) as well as Final Destination producers Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor.

This will be the sixth installment in the hit franchise, and the first in over ten years. Each film centers on “Death” hunting down young friends who survive a mass casualty event.

The latest entry is expected in 2025, coinciding with the original film’s 25th anniversary.

 

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