Stepping into the Twilight world of vamps, werewolves and rabid fans might not be daunting for some actors, but 24-year-old Alex Meraz is more than ready to step into the spotlight as Paul, one of Jacob Blacks’s wolf pack buddies, in the much-hyped sequel, The Twilight Saga: New Moon. We caught up with the soon-to-be heartthrob to talk wolf postures and whether he has better abs than Taylor Lautner.

There must have been some fierce competition for those four new werewolf roles. What was the audition process like and how did you finally land the role of Paul?
It was an intense process. When I received the call for submissions, I had already started working out because I knew it would be physically demanding. After a couple rounds of callbacks, I was lucky enough to land a role.

What can you tell us about Paul?
Paul is the “bad boy” of the wolf pack. He comes across as volatile, but I think he’s misunderstood. He is just very proud of being Quilete and is unapologetic about being a protector for his people.

Did you and Taylor get at all competitive in terms of shirtless attributes?
First day I met Taylor I overheard him ask Edi Gathegi [who plays Laurent] if I was bigger than him. Edi answered, “He’s just wider”. I teased him about overhearing it and from there we became gym buddies and shared workout tips with each other.

Are you prepared for the hoard of female fans you’re about to gain?
Bring it on.

How did you approach the role in terms of playing a werewolf? Did you do any kind of research or physical prep?
I looked at books on wolf pack mentalities and how the chain of command is governed by looks and postures, so I wanted to use some of those attributes in playing my role.

Did you feel any pressure playing a character in a franchise with such die-hard fans?
I felt more responsibility to the Quilete tribe than anything because I wanted to represent their tribe in a respectful manner. I’ve been fortunate enough to find out that the die-hard fans are extremely supportive.

What do you like to do during your free time?
Paint, spend time with my family, and workout.

What are some of your favorite movies?
Fight Club, Only the Strong, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Ninja Scroll, Ong-Bak, Amores Perros, City of God, Apocalypto, and District 9.