Taylor Lautner Returns For Twilight Sequel New Moon

Summit Entertainment has announced that Taylor Lautner will reprise his role as Jacob Black in Chris Weitz's Twilight sequel adaptation New Moon. Apparently in the sequel, Jacob transformers into an almost totally different character – a foot taller, five years older, and a lot bigger. We have to believe that he can transform into a huge werewolf, and until today it was believed that the role would have to be recast. Quotes after the jump.

"I'm very happy that Taylor will be playing Jacob Black in NEW MOON and that he's doing so with the enthusiastic support of Summit, the producers and Stephenie Meyer," said Weitz. "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."

Lautner says that he has "been working hard preparing for the physicality that this role will require and can't wait to get started with the filming of New Moon." Entertainment Weekly claims that Lautner has already gained 19 pounds and hopes to pack on 10 more.

In the sequel, Bella Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen 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.

New Moon will hit theaters on November 20th 2009.