Perez is reporting two casting rumors for New Moon, Twilight's sequel, which already has a release date for November of 2009. Chris Weitz is on as the new director, and he has only 12 weeks to get the cast together. Both Weitz and author Stephenie Meyer released statements trying to calm down fans about the change in director. Baby faced and barely 16 actor Taylor Lautner is not confirmed to be back as Jacob in New Moon.
Now, reports are that the 26 year-old actor Michael Copon, from Scorpion King 2, is one of the several actors director Weitz is considering to play the new and larger Jacob Black role.
A rep for Copon said they are making all efforts to land this gig. Even Copon is taking to self-advertisement by changing his Facebook status to messages such as "Michael Copon in a Twilight Zone!" and "Michael Copon is the older Jacob Black!" His rep confirmed that the Facebook is indeed Copon's.
Michael Copon is not Native American, but is half Filipino. Catherine Hardwicke had difficulty finding Native American actors for Twilight, and Weitz has to find actors to play Jacob's whole pack for New Moon. Michael isn't the only actor campaigning for a role in the next Twilight movie:
Additionally, 27-year-old Prince Caspian star Ben Barnes is also campaigning for a role. He's said to be actively trying to get the role of Aro, "a mind-reading vampire whose "New Moon" encounter with Edward and Bella helps shape their destiny together." And, coincidentally enough, Barnes has the same manager as Copon and Twilight star Cam Gigandet.
We smell a big paycheck coming in for their manager!
But even when a lead for Jacob has been cast, director Weitz is only left with about 12 weeks until filming starts.
