"Twilight's" Taylor Lautner is about to get some competition in the studly-werewolf arena.
HBO's "True Blood" has cast Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux, a werewolf who has a good-sized role in Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire novels and will do the same in the series. Manganiello will have a recurring part on the show, according to multiple reports.
Manganiello is the latest in a flurry of new actors joining the show, which began filming its third season this month. J. Smith-Cameron, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, Marshall Allman, Grant Bowler and Theo Alexander have all signed on in the past couple weeks, and Kristin Bauer has been bumped up to a series regular.
In Harris' books, Alcide is a full-blooded werewolf who's vying for the leadership of his pack. He first comes into contact with Sookie (Anna Paquin) when Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) asks him to help Sookie search for the kidnapped Bill (Stephen Moyer), and a complicated relationship ensues. The show has departed from the novels in the past, so whether that characterization holds remains to be seen.
Manganiello has had recurring parts on "How I Met Your Mother" (as Marshall's law-school bro Brad), "One Tree Hill" (as bartender Owen) and "ER" and played Flash Thompson in the second and third "Spider-Man" movies.
Subject: 'True Blood' casts Joe Manganiello as Alcide 
Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:38 pm