On Wednesday night, Lautner spoke exclusively with MTV News and
insisted that reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.

"I have been working out. I've been working out since the day we
finished filming 'Twilight.' I just weighed myself today; I've put on
19 pounds," the noticeably larger Lautner told us, promising that he'll
be big enough to fit Stephenie Meyer's physical description of Jacob
Black in "New Moon"when cameras begin rolling in 12 weeks. "I'm
guaranteeing Weitz 10 more[pounds] by filming. I get to meet Chris
on Friday, in two days, so I'm excited. I'm going to have lunch with him."


The news of a Lautner-Weitz sit-down will undoubtedly launch a
few thousand "OME!" exclamations, as Twilighters have spent the past
few days launching Web sites, petitions and other shows of support for
the young star. Speaking with us at Wednesday's Hollywood Foreign Press
Association Salutes Young Hollywood event, Lautner also addressed actor
Michael Copon's claims that he had landed the Jacob role, insisting that
Copon's Facebook declarations might be a bit premature.

"I've heard a few things," he said of Copon. "I don't really
know too much to comment on it. As far as I know, I haven't been told
'no' yet, so it's still all up in the air."

In regards to the series' recent musical-chairs situation, the

affable actor offered nothing but kind words for both his past and
possibly future directors. "I've seen a few of [Chris Weitz's] films,
and he's really talented. The same thing with Catherine [Hardwicke]; I
mean, Catherine had a really interesting mind," Lautner observed.
"[Weitz] has that as well, and he's very talented. I've heard a lot of
good stuff about him, so I'm excited to meet him. I heard he's like a
surfer dude, and that he's really laid-back and friendly. It'll be
fun."

The "Twilight" heartthrob also gave us his reaction to the studio's "New Moon" press release issued Saturday, which listed his co-stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, but caused widespread speculation in its omission of Lautner's name.

"I think it's because, well, Rob and Kristen were the lead roles

in 'Twilight,' so they've got to be back," he reasoned. "I don't even
know if they're officially signed; maybe they are, I don't know. They
just hired Weitz, and now they're just moving down the cast. All I can
say is, I'm going to be ready if my number's called."



In all the chaos of the past few weeks, Lautner added, plenty of things have been exaggerated by the media. Entertainment Weekly
reported this week that his agent is talking to the effects people
behind "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" about demonstrating how
effectively Lautner could be transformed digitally. "Nothing [along
those lines] has happened, and I don't know if it will," he told us. "I
think there's a lot of things that have gotten blown up that haven't
really occurred. That hasn't happened. I've just been working out for
awhile, and I'm ready."

Sure enough, Lautner's partially unbuttoned shirt, larger

physique and beginnings of a mustache sure seem to indicate that he's
ready to show Weitz how he could effectively return as grown-up Jacob
Black. And the actor said that in these uncertain times, he continues
to surf the "Twilight" sites and take solace in the fans' support.

"My job for 'Twilight' was to bring 'Twilight' Jacob to life —

the friendly, happy-go-lucky little Jacob," Lautner explained, looking
forward to the Friday lunch that will shape the future of his career.
"And my job for 'New Moon' is completely different; I've been looking
forward to that. I've been getting ready for it, and I can assure them
that I will follow through with that job."

- MTV.com  http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1601555/20081218/story.jhtml

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Who do you want to play Jacob. Do you still want Taylor?