LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Taylor Lautner will reprise the role of Jacob in the upcoming "Twilight" sequel, "New Moon."

The announcement was made by director Chris Weitz on "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer's official website.

"I'm very happy to announce that Taylor Lautner will be playing Jacob Black in New Moon and that he's doing so with the enthusiastic support of Summit Entertainment, the producers, and Stephenie Meyer," wrote Weitz.

Producers had initially voiced concerns about the casting of Lautner for the sequel because the character is older and physically changed in the sequel.

"The characters in Stephenie's books go through extraordinary changes of circumstance and also appearance; so it is not surprising that there has been speculation about whether the same actor would portray a character who changes in so many surprising ways throughout the series," Weitz wrote.

Meyer voiced her support for Lautner as well. The author said she was "very much a part of this decision" and says she's "truly thrilled that Taylor was the one who proved to the director, to Summit, and to me that he is the best possible Jacob we could have."