© (C) 2009 Summit Entertainment Taylor Lautner in THE TWILIGHT SAGA - NEW MOON

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Brand New Profile: TAYLOR LAUTNER TAKES A BITE OUT OF 'TWILIGHT' IN 'NEW MOON' - PART 1

Werewolves are introduced in the latest installment of the vampire franchise adding fur to the bite

By CARL CORTEZ and EMMANUEL ITIER, Contributing Writers
Published 11/10/2009

When NEW MOON, the second installment of the TWILIGHT saga was announced, it looked like Taylor Lautner, who played Jacob Black in the first film, was not coming back.

The producers noted he didn’t have the physique to play the more muscular, werewolf version of the character in NEW MOON (due out November 20), so he wasn’t asked back.

Then fan fervor saved the guy his job and now Lautner (who gained 30 pounds for the role) is becoming another of TWILIGHT’s breakout stars and is even currently dating that other popular Taylor (singer Taylor Swift) to make him the latest celebrity “it” couple for paparazzi everywhere.

“Jacob transforms a lot in NEW MOON, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well," says Lautner. “So it was a matter of getting to the gym and eating the right food and a lot of it, but also reading and studying the book and the character over and over and over again so I could have his character down as well, because he changes in many, many different ways.”

Of the changes, Lautner says his goal was to ensure that although his exterior changed in the second film, his heart remained the same from the first film.

“When he transforms, basically my job was to continue what I started in TWILIGHT, which was this extremely happy, friendly, outgoing guy, who is best friends with Bella,” says Lautner. “I had to continue that for the first half of the film, but as soon as I transform, I snap and I become a completely different person. I’m dealing with my issues and it’s really hard for me.”
 
Another facet of the NEW MOON movie is appearing in a bulk of the film shirtless.

“There are reasons that he’s not wearing clothes all the time,” he says. “One, when he transforms, all his clothes get shredded. He can’t help it. And when he goes into the woods to get something to put on, he’s not naked, it’s just a ripped pair of jean shorts. He’s also hot. He’s 108 degrees. So that’s another reason. The thing is, I love this character, I love this story, and putting on the weight and not wearing much clothing was required by the role. A year from now, if I love a story and I love a character that requires me to lose 40 pounds, I’m ready to do it.”
 
The regimen for putting on the pounds the proper way was going to the gym five days a week and eating right.

“If I was going to the gym too much, I’d be burning the calories I’m trying to take in, so it was important not to overwork yourself and have recovery time,” says Lautner. “The most important thing was the eating side. Everybody thinks it was the actual getting to the gym. That was easy - I was motivated. So getting in the gym was easy for me, but the eating was pretty hard. It was just eating a lot. I found out that I had to consume at least 3200 calories a day just to maintain. And I’m not trying to maintain, I’m trying to gain. So I had to eat more than that and I’m busy. I’m in downtown L.A., I’m from meeting to meeting. There’s not time for me to be eating. So I literally would have to carry a little Baggie of beef patties, raw almonds, sweet potatoes. So it’s not like every two hours I’m eating ice cream. It was difficult.”
 
This new physique was also necessary for the extensive amount of stunt work Lautner’s character is involved with in the new film.
 
“The physical side was really fun,” he says. "Some of it was challenging. I’d never ridden a dirt bike before. And yes, I rode the dirt bike for a total of about five seconds in the film, but for those five seconds I had to look as cool as possible. So it did require a lot of practice safety-wise, so they’d let me do it. And the wire work, like when I run up the side of her house, that whole thing, the wires were there so if I slipped and fell, I didn’t have my face plant into the ground. It was definitely challenging. That stunt was really complicated. You need to be on. I’m using a little plug in the side of the wall to take off from and jump so it’s really complicated and it required a lot of practice. Every single weekend I would practice that stunt for three hours a day. It was the last thing we filmed. The bonding with the werewolves was very fun too. Those guys are characters. They’re a lot of fun."
 
Now that Jacob is vying for the attentions of Bella, it’s also making for a very cool love triangle that has fans in a constant debate.

“Edward and Jacob are complete opposite guys,” says Lautner. “They’re hot and cold – literally. So yeah, I mean it’s just I personally love Bella and Jacob’s relationship, how they begin with best friends and it starts to grow into something more. Both guys are in love with Bella. Both guys are always going to be there for Bella, and they’re protective. I just think it’s what kind of guy you like.”

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF iF'S TAYLOR LAUTNER INTERVIEW

CLICK HERE FOR iF'S COVERAGE OF THE TWILIGHT PREMIERE WITH EXCLUSIVE PICS

CLICK HERE FOR iF'S COMIC-CON COVERAGE OF TWILIGHT

CLICK HERE FOR iF'S REVIEW OF TWILIGHT


 

Reader Comments

endia from grandrapids michigan sez....
love them both
12/5/2009 9:15:57 AM

Sarah from arizona sez....
i Think Jasper Hale (Jackson Rathbone) is the best new character!
11/28/2009 7:54:51 AM

lilyanna from florida sez....
i think its so hott hahaha
11/11/2009 1:01:06 PM

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