The much-loved Taylor Lautner will be staying on to play the popular werewolf character Jacob Black in New Moon, the sequel to the blockbuster film Twilight.

Director Chris Weitz posted on author Stephenie Meyer’s official site, saying, “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.”

He continues, “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. But it was my first instinct that Taylor was, is, and should be Jacob, and that the books would be best served by the actor who is emotionally right for the part. I think that fans of Twilight the book and the movie will be surprised by the Jacob Black that Taylor will bring to the screen in New Moon; and I’m looking forward to working with him and the rest of the cast in realizing the film.”

Stephenie adds, “I’d just like to add that I was very much a part of this decision. My first priority was always what was best for New Moon—what was going to give us the best possible movie. I’m 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. And I’m very much looking forward to seeing what he’s going to bring to Jacob’s character this year.”

Michael Copon was rumored to take on the role of Jacob but Taylor obviously beat him out!

Shenae Grimes gets her caffeine fix at Urth Caffe in Los Angeles on Wednesday (January 7).

During last night’s episode, we learned that Adriana (Jessica Lowndes) is pregnant, Brenda (Shannen Doherty) can’t have kids, Sean (Josh Henderson) is an imposter and Christina (Lauren London) is a bisexual cheerleader.

And it was just reported that Tori Spelling would be making her triumphant return as Donna Martin in the new 90210.

Jennifer Aniston covers the latest issue of Us Weekly, which reportedly details her exact weight plan, workout secrets and easy diet.

According to Star, John Mayer wrote a Christmas poem for Jen, and as a surprise New Year’s gift, he recorded it as a song. “He changed it a little bit to make it more lyrical,” an insider tells the mag. “But it’s all John Mayer style, so it sounds good.”

John surprised Jen with the tune during their trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Jen reportedly broke down in tears of joy.

The lyrics are supposedly: “Lucky in love, lucky in love/ Didn’t forget me when I asked you to leave me/ Didn’t forget me/ Now you’re alongside me/ You’ve brought luck to love/ I’ve been hit by a truck in love.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK of the Mayer’s lyrics? Romantic? Cheesy?

Check out the newsstand cover of Scarlett Johansson, star of the upcoming movies The Spirit and He’s Just Not That Into You, on the February 2009 cover of Harper’s Bazaar. (If you missed the subscriber copy, check it out!)

Here’s what the 24-year-old newlywed actress had to say:

On her engagement to Canuck cutie Ryan Reynolds: “I wasn’t surprised that it was happening, but anyone being presented with a beautiful diamond ring, as a girl, you just squeal with delight. You say you can’t believe it, but of course you really can.”

On cheering on Ryan from the sidelines during the New York City Marathon: “I went to some random spot and saw everybody going past. It was really incredible. I’m a horrible runner; I can barely put one foot in front of the other. I saw that J.Lo did a triathlon and I’m like, Damn, girl, you just had twins! It’s amazing. I’m so not a sporty spice; I’m a stay-at-home-and-veg spice.”

On the press rumors that she’s pregnant: “I got these calls that I was engaged way before it happened. I’ve also been pregnant several times. With, like, sextuplets. That must mean I’ve been eating way too many bagels or something. I’m not pregnant and I’m not going to be anytime soon.”

On her dream role: “Every actor wants to work on a Western. I would run a brothel, like a madam or something. I’m working with what I got. It’s only so long that people are going to want to see me in a corset. So I might as well do it now.”

Read the full article at HarpersBazaar.com. The February issue hits newsstands January 15.

WHAT PRICE FAME?

Britney Spears is OK!’s latest cover story.
The mag claims, “A decade since her first hit, we reveal the secret deal Britney made for a comeback — and how it’s tearing her apart.”

Below are pictures of Britney with her sons — Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden James, 2 — as well as her mom, Lynne. The pics, which were posted on her official website, were taken prior to her older brother Bryan’s wedding (he married younger sister Jamie Lynn’s manager, Graciella Sanchez). The couple was married in Louisiana on New Year’s Eve.

Cute pics!!!

Daniel Craig poses for a photocall for his latest film, Les insurges (English title: Defiance), on Wednesday (January 7) at the Bristol Palace in Paris.

“One of the reasons I think the story is important is because this is very recent history and a lot of the way we look at the world and live in the world is shaped because of that history,” the 40-year-old British actor said. “Stories like this need to be told because it’s not that long ago.”

Craig was accompanied by costar Liev Schreiber and the film’s director, Edward Zwick.

15+ pictures inside of Zwick quick Daniel Craig…

Violet Affleck spends the day at a park in LA with her nanny on Tuesday (January 6), while she waits for her parents and newborn baby sister to come home.

After swinging high above the ground, Violet, 3, held hands with her nanny as they left the park together.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck welcomed their second daughter in Los Angeles earlier on Tuesday, Jen’s rep confirmed to JustJared.com

The couple married in June 2005, and Jen later gave birth to first daughter Violet in December 2005.

Brad Pitt proudly proclaims that his partner Angelina Jolie is NOT a homewrecker. Here’s what the 45-year-old Curious Case of Benjamin Button star had to say in W Magazine’s February A-list issue::

On the public’s misinterpretation of his and Angie’s “affair”:“What people don’t understand is that we filmed [Mr. & Mrs. Smith] for a year. We were still filming after Jen [Aniston] and I split up. Even then it doesn’t mean that there was some kind of dastardly affair. There wasn’t. I’m very proud of the way that it was handled. It was respectful. [The film] will mean something to our kids. It will, that’s all.”

On Aniston’s recent comment that it was “uncool” for Angie to openly state that she and Brad fell in love on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith: “Listen, man, Jen is a sweetheart. I think she got dragged into that one, and then there’s a second round to all of that Angie versus Jen. It’s so created.”

On his current relationship with Jennifer Aniston: “We still check in with each other. She was a big part of my life, and me hers. I don’t see how there cannot be [that]. That’s life, man. That’s life.”

On photographing Angie for W magazine’s November 2008 photo spread: “We have fun working together; these things bring you closer. And let me tell you, it’s really sexy to see your loved one through the lens. I went much further [than the cover shot of Jolie breast-feeding]. I didn’t show those.”

On what motivated his request for photographer Chuck Close, who uses a technique called Daguerrotype that captures every fine line and flaw: “[to not have to be] the guy coming out of the ocean water with his T-shirt wet, even though I’ve done that, too, but have always walked away feeling a little crap about it.”

On how family life has changed him: “I quit smoking. That was the only thing that got me to quit. That was it. Done.”

On gay marriage rights: “People who are against gay marriage do not understand the very freedoms that they themselves are enjoying. What if someone said, ‘Sorry, no Christianity here? No Judaism. Certainly no Mormons.’ No one would stand for that, and I wouldn’t allow anyone to say that either. I’d fight them in the same way.”

Read Brad’s full cover feature at WMagazine.com. The issue hits stands January 20.

Katie Holmes rocks out Habitual “Skinny Isolation Pocket” jean in graphite and Hurley’s “Benny” beanie as she leaves NYC’s Gerald Schoenfeld theater after another performance of All My Sons on Tuesday (January 6).

Katie and husband Tom Cruise were recently spotted stopping by and picking up some food at Max Brenner in Union Square. Originally, they had a reservation there, but they decided to take their food out after they saw the crowd that was surrounding the restaurant. The couple got chocolate pizza, crepes and hot chocolate to go, sources told People.

All My Sons will come to a close with the last performance on Sunday, January 11.

Blake Lively and Leighton Meester film scenes on the set of Gossip Girl in Central Park, New York City, on Tuesday (January 6).

The cast and crew of Gossip Girl donated a quarter-ton of food to the Daily News feed-the-hungry campaign on Monday, the NY Daily News reported.

The 500 pound collection of perishable and nonperishable items was delivered to one of the more than 600 community centers served by City Harvest, a city food rescue organization. City Harvest collects millions of pounds of excess food and then delivers it to community food programs throughout NYC.

35+ more pics inside of Blake Lively and Leighton Meester gossiping in Central Park…