E! Online announced Wednesday that Taylor Lautner, the actor who played Jacob in “Twilight,” will be reprising the role for the upcoming sequel, “New Moon.”

There had been some speculation Lautner would not return and instead be recast with an older actor.

“Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke was not as lucky, and has been replaced by Chris Weitz.

Weitz has allegedly been casting “Italian vampires” and will be filming in Italy, which gives credence to the rumor that the Twilight saga’s Italian vampire clan, the Volturi, will be included in the film adaptation of‚  “New Moon.”