DEADBOLT: HOW WILL TAYLOR LAUTNER BECOME JACOB BLACK IN THE NEW MOON MOVIE?
THEDEADBOLT.COM: Deadbolt How Will Taylor Lautner Become Jacob Black in New Moon?
With casting still underway on New Moon, the second film adaptation in the Stephenie Meyer Twilight Saga, one of the major characters of the story, Jacob Black, played by young actor Taylor Lautner in the first film, returns in expanded capacity for the second Twilight movie. In New Moon the role of Jacob Black becomes much more important as Lautner’s character evolves not only in physical form but emotionally as well. Although Taylor Lautner and Jacob factored into Twilight in the midst of the relationship between the Edward and Bella characters of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, Lautner will need to dig much deeper to become Jacob Black for New Moon.As much as New Moon focuses on the loss of Edward and the effect that it has on Kristen Stewart’s Bella, Jacob’s importance not only with his transformation but also his developing relationship with Bella, comes to the forefront of the story. One of the biggest challenges that the New Moon casting team faced was whether or not to continue with Taylor Lautner and have him to reprise his role as the much beloved Jacob. Fans of the Twilight series were adamant that Lautner continue to portray Jacob although the physical challenges of the second cinematic adaptation would be hard to overcome. After careful consideration, Stephanie Meyer, author of the series, and Chris Weitz, director of New Moon, confirmed with Summit Entertainment that Taylor Lautner would indeed return to play Jacob Black.
The real challenge, however, now lies in transforming the boy into the man. In the New Moon novel, Jacob Black is struggling with the physical changes in addition to weighty, burdensome internal conflict about what he is becoming. Loyalty and trust are conflicts that Jacob has to endure not only within himself but also with his family and friends. As a teenage boy, Lautner will have to find the balance between adolescence and leadership with Black. While Jacob is extremely protective of Bella, and not for purely platonic reasons, Black also shares a similar conflict with Edward Cullen. Both boys love Bella and vow to protect her no matter the circumstances. Jacob knows that Bella’s heart will never belong to him, but his desire to be with her is only paralleled by Bella’s need for his friendship and presence to fill the void that Edward has left. Jacob goes from fun-loving friend to a protective quasi-boyfriend.
While the emotional role of Jacob depends on the interpretation of Taylor Lautner, the physical part of his role remains as the much larger question mark. It will have to be a joint effort between the production staff and Lautner in order for the physical changes that Jacob endures in the novel to transform to the screen. There are constant references to the ever-increasing size and strength of Jacob Black in New Moon, which will be difficult to film unless it’s done sequentially, which isn’t the normal route for filmmakers to take to safeguard the third act of a film first.
Aside from the human change of Jacob in New Moon, the werewolf transformation of Black also needs to be addressed. The Twilight film was criticized by some for its lack of innovative special effects and New Moon relies heavily on the idea of split-second changes and movement, which will require a great deal of movie magic. How will Weitz and crew go about shooting the mid-air transformation by Jacob? With such a tight shooting schedule - March 23 to May 21 in Vancouver - there looks to be very little room for error for both the production and Taylor Lautner in terms of fully realizing Jacob Black. Hopefully, since I’m actually based out of Vancouver, I’ll get to see some on-set activity.
Complete article here
The issues mentioned here have concerned me for a while. I trust that Taylor will find the emotional depth to play Jacob in New Moon, but I hope the CGI is not crappy. If it is, it could ruin the movie and the part of Jacob.
The timing is what worries me most. If there are any mistakes or issues that need to be worked out, there’s no extra time allowed for that in filming.
What do you think? Do you feel Taylor has the depth to play Jacob in New Moon? Do you think if the CGI is bad it could ruin the movie?
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I have confidence in Weitz. He did great with The Golden Compass. The public need to put faith in him and the cast/crew. He knows that he can’t afford to disappoint the fans. However compared to Weitz and Catherine he will make this film more awesome than Catherine’s. I have no reason to doubt Chris Weitz.
Anything has got to be better than the debacle that is the twilight movie.
I know they mean well in trying to get the movie out so fast but I have a suspision (and Hope) that they will not rush it and move the release back if necessary.
New Moon was such a powerful book. They can’t cheese it up to condense it like they did with Twilight.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. We have to do with professional movie makers, and nobody knows better than they do, what can or cannot be done in any given amount of time. They also know what price there is to pay, if they mess up. I also think people should give the young Taylor Lautner more credit…and a break, for pete’s sake!!…He is working very hard, in a most dedicated manner, to get his body into “the right shape” for his part as Jacob, in New Moon, so I have no doubt that he is just as dedicated to the work of acting, and “finding debth”. I predict that he will amaze us all! We should be backing him up, not doubting him. Let’s keep the positive vibes going his way!
also in the books they keep having him grow and hes close to 7′ tall and where would you be able to find an actor of that size with the looks that the role requires? the chemistry between him and kristen sewart is amazing so with a little luck well have our movie
I honestly don’t think that Taylor needs to look older or taller. Hes is the only one that can pull off be Jacob so why should it matter if he looks taller. Hes already taller than Kristin. So I dont care what anyone thinks when it comes to what Taylor makes Jacob look like.
Golden Compass had a budget of 180 million. New Moon has 50 million. Don’t bother with the comparisons. I’ve always been a Taylor fan for the role of Jacob. I know he’ll do well and frankly, I’m willing to do without crappy CGI to make him look 25 and 7 feet tall. If it keeps the movie from looking cheesy, get rid of the growth spurt. Besides… Jacob is not the only boy who gets stuck with the wolf issues. Sam, Paul, etc… the boys they cast will have the same issues and no one seems to be itchy about them.
AS for the comment about trust in “what they can do in a movie” time frame worry. Its a fact, rushed movies are substandard…and usually scheduled for straight to dvd releases. Twilighters have a valid reason to worry. Twilight’s love story was butchered in favor of extended “action” sequences… I don’t really trust them to get New Moon right.
ugghh…the golden compass was crap and when i saw twilight i loved it but it did seem a little rushed to be honest i have read all the books and new moon was probably the most boring because it was the same thing happening bella woke up, saw jacob and she was depressed. It was the same all through the middle so i hope the film is a bit more exciting =D
I hope that they take time on New moon and especially eclipse and breaking dawn because they are the most popular because some thing is happening all the time its never boring in those last two books.
Holly x
I think Taylor is perfect for the role of Jacob. He doesn’t look like a 17-year-old as it is. So i don’t think it’ll be a problem when Jacob changes to looking alot older than 16. The only thing i am woried about is how much time they’ve got to shoot this film. With all the special effects and travelling i don’t think 2 months would be enough. But i’m not doubting what Weitz can do, i thought The Golden Compass was an awesome film, i’m sure he’ll think of some way to make this film just as god if not better than Twilight.
Now that taylor got the part of jacob in the first movie just as any of the other cast member i cant see anyone else playing them so as long as they keep the origanal cast im cool
I truly beleive everything will be fine : I have complete trust in Stephenie Meyer, she knows how to drag good people around her. New Moon will be terrific ! I love Taylor Lautner’s new look, he truly is Jacob Black
I have faith in Taylor, he’s shown such dedication to the role already and I believe that he has what it takes to play Jacob. The special effects on the other hand worry me to no end! The time constraints make no room for error and if there are any what will happen then? I hope Summit will see sense in pushing the premiere back a few months if that’s what it takes to make a good movie. I’d be willing to wait a little while longer so it can be done right. Hopefully this will all work out and I’m worrying for no reason:)
So what that they don’t know how Taylor and Jacob will do, why is there a time limit? If Harry Potter can change his time to make it perfect, why can’t New Moon? I agree that I want to see it to but if something goes wrong or special effects aren’t going right, the true fans will wait.
Taylor truly is the perfect Jacob. I trust in the director to make this movie perfect in any amount of time you give him!!!! I dont think people believe that Taylor can play the werewolf form of Jacob but why would he play in Twilight if they didn’t think he could play the part in New Moon.:( He is truely a devoted actor…