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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Well, it’s been a seven days and it’s time to announce this week’s results–the poll we started on December 12th as to who should play Jacob Black in New Moon has received a whopping 6010 votes, and what do you guys say? Taylor, Taylor, Taylor!

Taylor is way in the lead, taking more than half the vote with a huge 3133 votes. Michael Copon and Steven Strait split the rest of the votes with 22% and 25% respectively.

There’s still time to vote, and we’ll leave the poll open if you want to add your say. We’ll be sending the results of this poll with the petition, as well!

On a side note, our Team Edward or Team Jacob Poll shows that Edward is the big winner with a landslide of 87% and Jacob receiving only 228 votes, or 13%.

Another way of looking at it–if only 13% prefer Jacob, and 52% want Taylor…..then only about 7% of fans are truly dedicated to Taylor Lautner.

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Hollywire tracked down Michael Copon at Katsuya in LA where he was dining on albacore tuna. They’ve posted a short video interview where they quiz him about being in New Moon:

Hollywire Exclusive: Michael Sets the Record Straight

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Michael Copon briefly addresses the buzz that he will play Jacob Black in a new interview today. While he mostly just plugs the other projects he is working on, he does have this to say about New Moon:

I think that it is pretty clear that there are huge rumors going around the Internet about me up for the role as Jacob Black. At this point, they are only rumors. There are a lot of opinions going around on the Internet about this role. It is definitely a role of a lifetime and I would love to have that chance.

Clearly things are still up in the air, though he does seem excited at the prospect of playing Jacob. He is finally getting around to reading the books, too. He says that “I have just started reading Twilight. Everyone kept saying that it was the best book in the world so I had to go and read it.” You can read the rest of the interview at Popstar.

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As we reported earlier, Michael Copon is in the running for the role as Jacob Black in New Moon:

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.

Among the other roles still to be cast is the Volturi leader Aro. Weitz is taking a serious look at Ben Barnes for this role, who recently played Prince Caspian in the Chronicles of Narnia:

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.

Coincindentaly, Twilight star Cam Gigandet, Michael Copon and Ben Barnes all have the same manager. Since the Volturi have been around for thousands of years, I always imagined someone older playing them. It’s interesting that they may be going after a younger actor to star as Aro.

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

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We had our doubts about whether the screenshot of Michael Copon’s Facebook status “Michael is the older Jacob Black!” from December 10th was real. And, even if it was a real screenshot–was it really his page? Well, it looks like it was real screenshot, and it really is his page. Check out these new videos and screenshots that were sent to us from a tipster from his Facebook page, the first of which is titled “MICHAEL COPON IN A TWILIGHT ZONE!”: [click to continue…]

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We know a lot of people don’t want to see Taylor Lautner leave the role of Jacob Black in New Moon. But with Summit itself talking about the potential for re-casts in a CNN story, there is a chance that Lautner is out. So, who do you want to see play Jacob? Opinions seem to be divided so far in the huge comment thread about the Michael Copon rumor.

Let’s settle it with a three-way poll–with Michael Copon who is 6′1 and 26; Steven Strait who is 6′2 and 22 and Taylor Lautner who is 5′6 and 16 as the likely contenders.

(left to right: Michael Copon, Steven Strait, and Taylor Lautner)

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UPDATE: Page is real.
Rumors are swirling that Michael Copon, most noted for his work in One Tree Hill, is the new Jacob Black. According to his seemingly official Facebook page, his status update is “Michael is the older Jacob Black”. Now, this could easily be doctored, but I think it might just be true. He would be a good fit–he really does look like a bigger, older Taylor Lautner. Copon is 6′1″ and 26 years old, Lautner is 5′6″ and 16 years old. You do the math. Check him out below in his role in Scorpion King: Rise of the Warrior:

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