MTV NEW MOON MOVIE CASTING NEWS

Posted December 15th, 2008 By: 181 Comments »

MTV – New Moon’ Casting News: Michael Copon, Ben Barnes Push For Roles In ‘Twilight’ Sequel

Copon is hoping to replace Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black, while Barnes is angling to play mind-reading vampire Aro.
These days, “Twilight” fans are feeling closer to their heroine than they ever thought possible.

Following last week’s dismissal and replacement of Catherine Hardwicke, this weekend began with a press release from Summit Entertainment officially appointing “New Moon” director Chris Weitz to the job. Suspicious in its omission of Taylor Lautner, the release seemed to all but confirm Twilighter whispers that Hardwicke won’t be the last “Twilight” talent replaced before the sequel.

So where does the series go from here?

MTV News can confirm that 26-year-old “Scorpion King 2″ actor Michael Copon [pronounced "COPE-on"] is one of several actors Weitz is considering to play the new, larger Jacob Black. A representative for Copon told us that they’re making a full effort to land the high-profile gig. And in a bit of 21st-century self-publicity, the actor has even recently updated his Facebook status with messages like: “Michael Copon [is] in a Twilight Zone!” and “Michael Copon is the older Jacob Black!”

Copon’s representative confirmed to MTV News that the Facebook page is run by the actor himself and that those are indeed his words.

Approached for comment on Lautner’s omission from the “New Moon” press release, Summit confirmed that it was not a typographical error. “The casting decision in regards to the character Jacob Black has yet to be made,” a representative told MTV News.

But even once Copon (or whoever else) is officially announced as the new Jacob, Weitz still has many other key casting decisions to make and an extremely brief amount of time in which to make them. With barely 12 weeks until cameras are due to begin rolling, the “Golden Compass” filmmaker needs to find faces to portray several key characters â€” including the peace-keeping, Italian vampires known as the Volturi.

With the buzz building for these roles, MTV News has confirmed that 27-year-old “Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” heartthrob Ben Barnes is throwing his hat into the ring. The actor is already quite popular with the “Twilight” fanbase and shares the same manager as both Copon and “Twilight” star Cam Gigandet. Barnes is believed to be campaigning for the role of Aro, a mind-reading vampire whose “New Moon” encounter with Edward and Bella helps shape their destiny together.

SOURCE

Now it’s confirmed – Taylor is out and other actors are being considered for the role of Jacob Black. What do you think of Copon as Jacob and Ben Barnes as Aro?

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shelby

i really hope they dont replace taylor. & if they do i will not go see the other films. he is the perfect jacob & i really hope that taylor himself sees this site himself & realizes that theres too many people that want to see him as jake in future films. he is exactly how i picture jake. & if they replace him it better be with someone who looks like him. this isnt fair. especially to us twilighters who pay to go see these movies. its total b.s.

I LOVE TAYLOR!
Alyce

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THEY CANNOT I REPEAT CANNOT REPLACE TAYLOR THATS SO STUPID AFTER ALL THE PUBLICITY AND PHOTO SHOOTS AND EVRYTHING!! ALL THE TWILITE FANS LUV HIM. THEN REPLACE HIM WITH SUM GUY THATS OLDR THAN ROBERT PATTINSON TO PLAY A 16 YR OLD???????? WTF PEOPLE WTF??? IM AM A TWI-HARD FAN BUT THIS???? I MAY NOT C THE MOVIE!!! THIS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
RIDICULUS
glober

Well, i pity TL, he has a really nice personality , but however, i think he’s physically not suited for Jacob;

STEVEN STRAIT = He has always beeen the jacob black in my mind;D

I hope this wish come true.
Well, ben barnes for aro ? A 20+ guy playing for a man who has lived for thousands of years ? I wouldnt agree with it.
Amanda

Aro is supposed to be old not some young dude like seriously thats retarded and copon does not look like jacob black should look like i think that taylor lautner should stay as him or at least get steven strait to do it because to me he has always looked like jacob black. but that whole aro thing is crap, get somebody older to do it.
Lucy

OKAY.
THIS ARE BAD NEWS.
I DONT MIND BEN BARNES AS ARO… HE IS TALENTED AND GOOD LOOKING, BUT
I CANT STAND FOR MICHAEL COPON. ACTUALLY I CANT STAND FOR ANY OTHER
JACOB THAT IS NOT TAYLOR. HE IS A PERFECT JACOB, I DONT CARE HIS SIZE, I THINK THAT THEY CAN USE TECHNOLOGY. I CANT IMAGINE ANOTHER JACOB AND ALL MY FRIENDS AND ME ARE GOING TO BOYCOTT NEW MOON. SORRY, BUT THEY ARE RUINING THE MOVIE FOR ALL MY FRIENDS AND ME..WE ARE VERY UPSET. SO, IF THEY REPLACE TAYLOR, SUMMIT ARE GOING TO LOSE MONEY. IM SURE THAT LIKE US, OTHER TWILIGHT FANS THINK THE SAME.
Bekah

I think it’s total crap!!! Seriously! There are ways to make Taylor bigger to play Jacob in New Moon!!!! Look at Hagrid in Harry Potter! He’s not really that big! They can do all sorts of things with computers now-a-days! They CAN make it work! Idiots. Now I am not looking forward to seeing New Moon whatsoever!!! >:(
Janine

Ok first of all Jacob black as Taylor its cool but
we didn’t get to see much of him in the first movie
i didn’t even notice him much in the movie i focused on Robert and Kristen.

But what the heck Taylor Looks like Michael but older.
I still think Michael Capon suits the role of Jacob Black. I would soo see this because he will be half naked all the time, which is so worth to watch!

And as for Aro I thought a bit more older Version and Ben Barnes is a lot younger but is doesn’t matter now i guess because this is a story about Vampires. And plus i think he is a cutie to watch.

So i am really okay with Michael Copon as Jacob and Aro as Ben Barnes. Plus i would still concentrate for EDWARD CULLEN AND BELLA SWAN!

2 thumbs up!!!
Lisa Cullen

WHAT ?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOO TALYOR HAS TO BE JACOB!!!! its not final it cant be! hes still jacob he has 2 be!
Delane

OMG they cant change jacob… taylor is supposed to stay it’s not right to be changing people throughout sequels he has to stay although Michael Copon is hot and everything its not right to be changing characters Taylor fits the match for the annoying jacob in new moon the only thing holding him back is the GIANT growth spurt he endures but still they can do something with all the technology they have now a days Ben Barnes as Aro on the other hand really isn’t what i pictured in mind Aro is scary to Bella and Ben Barnes isn’t scary at all i imagined an older person as Aro…
Kristy

TEAM EDWARD

i have to say i am a fan of edward but in this case i cant say tht it would be horrible if they replaced taylor. so wht if he is a smaller and skinner(dont they say the camera gives you 10 pounds anyway) tht doesn’t mean tht they should fire a great actor like him, when i was reading the books(although i wanted to punch jacob) taylor was the person i pictured in my mind and i didnt know he was jacob black! if the fire taylor new moon will horrible and i am sorry but MICHAEL COPON IS NOT JACOB BLACK!!!!! he just cant fit the part i can not picture tht at all!!!!!!!!so please we all need to pray tht taylor remains jacob black.it would be dumb to fire him because he all ready did twilight!!!!
Emily

The casting for Aro is pretty cool, good news. But, what was that thing about Copon being Jacob? C’mon! Taylor Launter was the one person they casted that was actual my minds image of Jacob Black. Plus, he’s the teenage hearthrob for the next movie because Rob won’t be in it as much. Heck, he was on of the hearthrobs in this movie! Nothing against Copon, I mean, I bet he’s a great actor. But he’s not the right actor for this particular part, at least for me.
Honestly, switching Taylor Launter out at this point is like switching out one of the other characters that didn’t have the largest part in the movie. Like Jackson or Kellan. No one wants them replaced. No one wants Taylor replaced. If the fans don’t have a problem with it then neither should the casting director. I mean, the movie is for us and we all love Taylor.
aussiegirl

ok, you SO can’t just change a character halfway through a series!, This isnt doctor who. it would look weird if they changed charlie or bella wounn’t it?
Taylor was a fantastic jacob! and if he dosnt grow up fast enough, then change it, they changed a normal guy’s face into voldemorts right? then why cant they photoshop or change taylor’s face to look older?
its possible
no idea who the guy playing aro is (sorry if i offended anyone)
but still, there is no excuse for ditching taylor right now, they should have thought of that before casting him, and besides, if they want to get ANY good remarks foe new moon, then they’ll keep him, cause twilight didnt do so well over here
Harlie

grate replace all the charaters why dont you. replace taylor. and victoria. i hate wenitz. and meyers is one retarted person. let me tell you
Sarah

I’m a bit upset because Taylor will be leaving because this could of been his big breakthrough performance!:(

But on the otherhand…

BEN BARNES AS ARO!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I THINK I’M HAVING A HOTTIE ATTACK!

(okay calm down sarah calm down)

I can really imagine the scene with Ben, Rob, Kristen and Ashley! That would just be awesome!
shay

omg i cant believe this taylor is doing such a great job he was excited about this and he even said he was going to stay away from things and go to the gym every day for the next movie they cant ust drop him like that they are ruining new moon and sorry to say but ewww copon come on i mean yes he is a good actor but he just does not fit the movie i know for sure me and my friends arent going to go see it now we were looking forward to see taylor in it
we’re still supporting taylor
brittany

taylor lautner work hard to get the of jacob black you can’t toss him out like that he gain 19 pounds and he is added 10 more pounds to that michael is too old and to ugly to play jacob black an people are gonna get confuse who is jacob black if you replace him
TeamJake

Ok if Summit changes Taylor to Copon do you think all the Twilight fans will go and see New Moon? I’m a huge fan of Twilight and Jacob, and I want someone who has the same personality as Jacob to play him, and Taylor is perfect for the role. He has that smile that can make Bella’s day and Kristen and Taylor have chemistry. Make Copon try a scene with Kristen and see if they have chemistry. Copon seems too cocky and smug to be Jacob. My opinion is kick Copon out, let Taylor play the whole movie. And if that can’t be done…then use Steven Strait for the after-werewolf part of the movie. Copon is out of question. He’s way too cocky.

As for Ben Barnes…I always pictured Aro like Alan Rickman in Harry Potter…he always felt like Snape to me, I don’t know why. Ben Barnes is a bit too young for this. Alan has that powerdery look, but he would probably make a good Caius. Anyways, I always think they should pick someone middle-aged for the Volturi. BEn Barnes can be a guard, like Felix or Demetri.
Laryn

I am not familar with Copon but to change from Lautner to Copon should not be done. Many fans have fallen in love with Launter and personally feel that he fit the part of Jacob perfectly! He looked just like how i imagined him to be, and it would be a huge let down to see someone else.In an interview he mentioned something about playing the role in New Moon, so the director could be letting the actor down as well.

Ben Barnes as Aro… I look forward to that! I adore Barnes and feel he could bring Aro to life nicely. He is quite a talented man and i have faith he could pull it off. Genlte yet Firm.
Katiie

Ben Barns as Aro will be great I think. But for some reason I pictured a old guy as Aro, I know thats not right, but doesn’t he sound like he should look Dumbledore ? But considering that he sorta has to be young I think Barns will do PERFECT.

I wish they didn’t have to change Taylor, because truely I think that most people who aren’t fans of the book and don’t know about the storyline or the change wouldn’t really get it, but oh well. We can’t have Taylor,. I mean, his only 5’6, thats the same height as me and I’m a 13 year old girl, and not even a tall one. Its not going to happen so Copon should do fine
alyssa

they cant replace taylor he was the best and besides they need someone hot and that is def. not michael copon(no offense i think he is pretty…….ugly taylor is much better) and who cares if he isnt big enough and old enough cant they just make him bigger ughhhhhhhh im sooo mad they need to keep taylor or at least get someone better then copon
christy

if they were going to replace taylor then why did they cast him in the begining that is why i don’t like the way they change one of the cast members then is screws everything up and since they are replacing taylor they could have picked steven strait from the covenent. i think he is better for the role than the guy michael copon anyways but i just wish they keep the original actors in the movies for their characters .
Bella Wannabe

O.K. to all the Taylor fans out there. Jacob’s character changes in the second book. He is taller and bigger and is supposed to look alot older than he is. Taylor did a great job in the first film, but he doesn’t fit the roll in the second. I think they should keep Jacob’s character as close to the Jacob in New Moon as possible.
Rachel

OMG HOW CAN THEY DO THIS?? If you ask me Michael Copon sounds a bit arrogant and he is NOT LIKE JACOB!! Taylor is perfect and surely with all the technology out there they can bulk him up a bit! Are they DEFINATELY replacing him?
Um I always imagined Aro as like an old man but I guess if they’re going to use a younger actor than Ben Barnes has that kind of intense look needed to play him.
Jake

NO………… TAYLOR CANT BE OFF HE HAS TO BE JACOB, JACOB WILL NOT HAVE THE SAME IMAGE IF TAYLOR DIDNT PLAY HIM!
KelseyLikesTwilightMoreThanYou

Ben Barnes as Aro = Perfection
but…
Micheal Copon as Jacob = Major Failure!!
How could they replace Taylor Lautner?!?!
I mean, im pretty sure most fans thought he was a fabulous jacob Black!
In my opinion, they couldnt have picked anyone better, plus hes the right age as well!
Micheal is 26! he definitely shouldnt be Jacob, he is waaaay to old and mature looking, Taylor is perfect for the role, period.
If Micheal Copon gets the role of Jacob, i can pretty much gaurentee a full blown riot of angry fangirls.
Ang05

I found this cast on youtube. Seems like this erson had alot of time on there hands but I got to give them for good taste in casting. What do ya think. And yes I love Johnney Depp as Aro!!!! LOL he is Hot and I’l take a bit from him anyday. But then again she also choose Orlando Bloom so it a toss up. LOL
ilovebenbarnes

i totally think that ben barnes would work for Aro, ’cause he’s just totally cool and he’ll totally work for it!!! I think Taylor Lautner would have worked, but STEVEN STRAIT would work, too, for Jacob. Ben Barnes is just totally hot so I’m rooting for him because I like him so much…i have so many pictures of him! I have ben barnes wallpapers on my computer, Prince caspian dvd and soundtrack, prince caspian calendar, so many things that it’ll take an hour to explain them all… SERIOUSLY!
Natalie

OHEC!!!!!!! they can’t replace Taylor!!!! he is so freaking hot
http://google.com jordan wramer

i don’t like jacob anyway, so I could care less WHO plays him. copon and taylor both look ok; doesn’t really matter to me.
As for Aro, I think the only actor I’ve seen vying for him IS ben barnes. are there any other options? if not, I LOVE ben, and he’s EXTREMELY good-looking (and he’d make a good vampire), so I’ll go with him for now.
p.s. I don’t want dakota for jane. no, no, no, no, no, no!
JustAnotherFan

I am a bit disappointed that Taylor will not be playing the role of Jacob in New Moon. I understand that the character changes in the book, but I can’t see anyone else nailing the character Jacob like Taylor did.
And I can’t even believe that they are considering Dakota for anything in this movie!!!
http://url jessie

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