VIDEO: New Moon's Alex Meraz Boasts Shirt-Ripping Skills

08/25/2009 at 04:00 PM EDT

The casting of Alex Meraz as a werewolf in The Twilight Saga: New Moon was an inspired choice, judging by this video, in which the actor shows off some impressive shirt-ripping abilities.

Meraz, 24, plays one of four shape-shifting brothers in a wolf pack in the Twilight sequel, due out Nov. 20. The Mesa, Ariz., native plays Paul, the most volatile wolf in the series' town of Forks, Wash., and boasts a Purepecha heritage.

The video was shot by photographer Tyler Shields.
– Tim Nudd