J14 has snagged an exclusive interview with Michael Copon, and he talks in some detail about the possiblity of playing Jacob Black in New Moon. Is he auditioning? No. Just talking. Behind the scenes at Summit, he says that–
There’s no auditioning going on, it’s a lot of talking. My representation has been talking to Summit and they’re hearing that I’m one of the first picks. I got offered CSI: Miami recently without auditioning, so a lot of great things are coming without auditions. But I wouldn’t mind going in and showing them what I’ve got. At the same time, it would be really great if they saw my work and trusted me. It would make me feel like they look at me more as a team player.
He gets in a pretty harsh jab at Taylor Lautner saying that he was too one-note in Twilight, and maintains he would be the better choice for the role:
I have nothing against Taylor personally. I think he’s great and tremendous at what he does. But it’s just adjusting to the fact that Jacob has to grow. It’s a matter of going with the storyline. It goes with the territory. I see so much in Jacob Black that I feel like wasn’t brought to the first film that if I had the opportunity, I would totally create an amazing character. He’s more than just a guy who walks around and smiles and likes Bella. It’s just too one-sided. It’s two colors and I feel like Jacob is full of a hundred colors.
So, he thinks that Taylor Lautner as Jacob “just walks around and smiles”. Ouch! He gets in another jab at Taylor by saying that he isn’t the right size for the role, dismissing Lautner’s stature, “Taylor’s probably what, 140 [pounds], if he’s lucky? I’m already 200 pounds, so there’s no need for me to get any bigger. Plus he’s 5′6″ and I’m 6′2″. In the book, he grows eight inches and I’m exactly eight inches taller than Taylor. Huge difference.”
As to how familiar he is with the books, well, he’s read Twilight and “dabbled through the Cliffs Notes” of New Moon and Eclipse and he says “I kind of know what happens.”
Copon feels the line on his resume from Scorpion King 2 is enough experience to bring to New Moon:
I think with the experience I got from Scorpion King 2, I Iearned how to carry a film from start to finish. Plus, it was a very similar role – Heroic warrior who had passion for someone. It’s a similar story in a different realm with werewolves. I would be fun to play this dark yet romantic story.
He seems like a decent enough guy–as witnessed by the recent interview where he was interrupted at dinner and went ahead and gave an interview anyhow–but wow, he does he seem a bit cocky here!
J-14 Exclusive Q&A with Michael Copon














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