Jackson Rathbone talks 'Jasper' for Eclipse..

Jackson Rathbone talks exclusively with Larry Carroll about Jasper, and all the good fight scenes in Eclipse! Continuing reading for Larry's interview with the sexy Jackson!




DALLAS — We don't need to have our emotions influenced to know that Jasper Hale Whitlock is one of Stephenie Meyer's greatest creations. A 166-year-old Civil War veteran whose transformation and redemption is a key theme in the later "Twilight" novels, the character has long been a fan favorite. Which made it all the more appropriate when the franchise landed Jackson Rathbone, a 24-year-old actor/musician whose affable, easygoing charm has made him equally popular in Twilight Nation.

Recently, we caught up with Jackson as he was preparing to begin work on "Eclipse," the currently filming third chapter in the blockbuster saga. What follows are some major plot revelations from the next two films — including his fight scene with Kellan Lutz, exposing Japer's powers earlier than you might think and how to kill one of David Slade's newborn vampires.


Jackson Rathbone: I'm really excited to start filming "Eclipse." I got a chance to read the script, and we get to go back into Jasper's backstory. They actually had to ask me about my equestrian experience. I told them I can gallop and trot and all that. I used to ride. It's been two or three years since I've been on a horse, but I'm excited to get back up on the saddle.

MTV: So we're going to get to Jasper's Civil War backstory?

Rathbone: Yes, I get to shoot some Civil War stuff, and I'm also going to shoot a lot of fighting scenes. Which is great, because I just came off [M. Night Shyamalan's] "The Last Airbender," and I've been doing fighting for the last six months. So I'm ready to keep it on.

MTV: What kind of moves will you be pulling off? Just shooting guns? Obviously, it won't be highly-stylized martial arts stuff.
Rathbone: No, it won't be karate, it won't be kung fu, like the stuff we're doing in "Airbender." But even in "Airbender," the fighting styles I was doing were a little bit more loose, like street fighting. And that's kind of what this is; it's about evading.

Click here to read Larry Carroll's full report