via Entertainment Weekly

Photo by: Timothy White

Vampires may be cold but this wolf pack is hot! And getting hotter: Four new actors have been pumping up to play the band of brotherly shape-shifters in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

The group – Chaske Spencer, 34, Alex Meraz, 24, Kiowa Gordon, 19, and Bronson Pelletier, 23 – join Taylor Lautner, 17, as he returns as Jacob Black for the sequel, due out Nov. 20.

Because the characters belong to the Quileute tribe, based in La Push, Wash., the film’s director, Chris Weitz, has insisted on authenticity. “They had to have papers that proved their heritage,” Weitz, who hired actors with Native American or First Nation ancestry, tells USA Today. “And they had to be in good physical shape.”

Not to mention possessing the ability to work half-naked in the chilly Vancouver, B.C., area, where the film has been shooting for several weeks. “They have all been good-natured,” says Weitz. “They show up on location in drenching, cold rain, and I say, ‘Okay, off with the robes.’ ”

Disrobing for a romp through the woods as Sam Uley, the pack’s alpha male, is New York-based Spencer. His Native American heritage is Lakota Sioux. Meraz, from Mesa, Ariz., plays Paul – the most volatile wolf-shifter – and boasts a Purepecha heritage.

Gordon is making his movie debut as Embry Call, Jacob’s best friend. He is from Peach Springs, Ariz., and has a Hualapai background. Rounding out the group as Jared is Pelletier of British Columbia. He’s done Canadian TV work and his family lines are Cree-Metis.

So they have buff physiques, but what about becoming wolves for the film? The transformations are computer-generated – the beasts are the size of horses and race around on all fours – but one part of each wolf will be familiar.

“They all have the actor’s eyes,” Weitz says.

via People

© Tina Gill/PR Photos

New rumor has emerged by the hour that “Twilight” co-stars Nikki Reed and Robert Pattinson are secretly dating. According to Lainey Gossip, which is the first to report that matter, the twosome has been spotted spending some quality time together on and off the set of “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon” in Vancouver, Canada.

Nikki, still according to Lainey Gossip, hung up with Robert at his place on Sunday, April 29. Later that evening they hooked up again. They attended a Juno Awards after party with the companion of fellow “Twilight” co-star Kristen Stewart and her actor boyfriend Michael Angarano.

During the bash, Nikki and Robert “spent much of the time talking to each other, heads bent close together,” a source tells Lainey Gossip. At the end of the night, “Kristen and Michael hopped in a cab, and Nikki and Rob walked further up the block…arms wrapped around each other on their way home.” The source adds further, “She stayed with him overnight, was supposed to be back in L.A. on Monday….But never showed.”

There hasn’t been confirmation nor denial from Nikki or Robert regarding the dating claim. Besides, there is also no obvious evidence of them spending time together at the particular date and event.

Nikki Reed, Robert Pattinson, and Kristen Stewart currently are in Vancouver for the filming of the highly anticipated “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon.” The “Twilight” sequel will be released in U.S. theaters on November 20 later this year.

via Ace Showbiz

As Twilight series fans look forward to seeing Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles as Edward Cullen, Bella Swan, and Jacob Black in New Moon this November. Many of them, declaring their slight disappointment with the amount of the book that was left out of the first film, have declared those scenes that are crucial and must be included in New Moon (for that list, see here).

Others, however, say that the list is pointless – that Twilight fans should accept the fact that New Moon simply cannot be exactly like the book. To the chagrin of many, these folks say that they think New Moon, the film, may differ significantly from the book, and that this should be okay.

Critics of this viewpoint state that this is unfair to the millions that read and loved New Moon, and that it is indeed very possible to bring a faithful adaptation of the book to the big screen.

Twilight Examiner

The Bentonville, Ark.-based retail behemoth said it would host midnight events and giveaways in its 24-hour stores, including a program for fans to interview Twilight cast member Taylor Lautner on BlogTalkRadio.

Wal-Mart will distribute exclusive Twilight gifts for those first 50 fans in line to purchase the DVD movie at each 24-hour store.

Preorders for the single disc DVD movie (Wal-Mart exclusive for $17) and the special edition DVD are available today at Walmart.com. The retailer also has created a micro site specific to the release at Walmart.com/twilight.

The two-disc edition Twilight sells for $22.86. A special two-disc plus exclusive gift edition is pre-selling for $24.99. Amazon.com priced the two-disc edition (no bonus gift) at $22.99 and BarnesNoble.com has it at $26.39.

Lautner, who plays Jacob Black in Twilight, will be featured on the Stardish Radio program March 9 at 9 p.m. (EST). Speaking from the set of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon, Lautner will take questions from fans with hosts Jo Ann Kubasek and Amy Clark.

Callers must be logged on BlogTalkRadio.

“Fans of all ages have fallen in love with the Twilight series, and we will bring to as many as possible special access to the stars, great priced products and additional, memorable activities around this DVD movie release, both in our stores and online,” said Greg Hall, VP, merchandising at Wal-Mart.

Little-known first nations actor Bronson Pelletier has been cast in the Twilight sequel New Moon, scheduled to begin shooting Mar. 23 in Vancouver.

The announcement appeared on the website of Vancouver-based Carrier Talent Management Thursday and then promptly disappeared.

Darren Boidman of Carrier refused comment when contacted by The Sun but appeared to confirm Pelletier’s involvement in the project by referring all questions about the young actor to Summit, the production company filming New Moon.

The announcement on Carrier’s website read: Congratulations to BRONSON who scores a lead role in the highly anticipated “Twilight” feature film sequel “New Moon.” It’s rumored he will be co-staring with Dakota Fanning.

Dakota Fanning’s involvement in the film has not been confirmed by Summit.

Pelletier, 20, is a Plains Cree originally from the Askinootow first nation in Alberta. According to his official bio he is a snowboarding enthusiast and idolizes Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix.

His cast credits include only two productions, Global TV’s Renegadepress.com and Discovery Kids’ Dinosapien.

His aboriginal ethnicity suggests that he will play one of the film’s werewolf characters, who are all members of the Quiluette Indian Band in the book series by Stephanie Meyer (I’m thinking possibly Seth).

Recent casting calls for New Moon in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna specifically sought first nations actors for speaking roles. Hundreds of young actors and hopefuls showed up, some from as far away as Florida, overwhelming the casting agents’ ability to see all the applicants.

Stewart “went crazy” after she found out that 90210 hottie AnnaLynne McCord was being considered for a role as a sexy seductress in the movie.

“Kristen was jealous and annoyed by the attention heaped on AnnaLynne,” said a source.

It looks like Kristen won’t have to lose much sleep about it. McCord bowed out of the project, saying it conflicted with her schedule.

Sequels can often take years to get made, but fans looking to sink their teeth into more “Twilight” won’t have to wait too long.

The third film in the series, “Eclipse,” will arrive on June 30, 2010, Summit Entertainment confirmed toAccess Hollywood. Sequel “New Moon” is due November 20 of this year.

Moreover, the series now has a name; based on the beloved novels of author Stephenie Meyer, the series has been officially named “The Twilight Saga.”

Chris Weitz will not direct the third film in the Twilight series, Eclipse, a source close to the production tells EW.com exclusively. Because New Moon, which Weitz is helming, and Eclipse are due to be released so close together (on Nov. 20, 2009, and June 30, 2010, respectively), Weitz will be in post-production on New Moon at the same time that Eclipse will be shooting. That said, the source confirms a report that the movies will not be shot simultaneously or back-to-back; there will be a brief gap between the production of both films