TWILIGHT star TAYLOR LAUTNER will reprise his role in the hit movie's sequel NEW MOON - after impressing author STEPHENIE MEYER and director CHRIS WEITZ with his dedication to the part.
The 18-year-old actor played Jacob Black in the vampire franchise's first outing, adapted from Meyer's cult series of books.
Studio bosses initially doubted Lautner's ability to return to the role in the forthcoming New Moon - as his character's physical appearance transforms so dramatically.
But he won over the movie's bosses after proving his determination by heading to the gym and working out furiously to bulk up for the film.
And Weitz and Meyer are adamant they have the right man for the job.
In a statement on Meyer's website, Weitz writes: "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."
Meyer agrees: "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."
