'Twilight Saga' Author Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host' Lands Saoirse Ronan To Star

DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE: Saoirse Ronan has been set to star in The Host, the screen adaptation of the bestselling novel by Twilight Saga author Stephenie Meyer. Scripted by Andrew Niccol, the film figures to be one of the hot titles when Inferno launches sales at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival next week. Niccol, who was originally set to direct, might resurface as the filmmaker.

Ronan, the Oscar-nominated star of Atonement, The Lovely Bones and most recently Hanna, will play Melanie Stryder, one of the last humans putting up a fight against an alien species called Souls. These parasites invade human bodies, fuse to each person's consciousness and systematically erase their personalities. Melanie is captured by the aliens and implanted by a Soul called Wanderer, something of a legend because of all of the "hosts" she has attached to on numerous planets. Wanderer's goal is to get Melanie to give up the remaining pockets of humans, but instead the alien finds Melanie to be unique in her unwillingness to surrender her consciousness. Wanderer is so overwhelmed by Melanie's memories and feelings, the alien is driven to reconnect with Melanie's old life.

The concept is more of a visual challenge than Meyer's Twilight Saga books, but one thing they plan is for Ronan to play both Melanie and Wanderer. Meyer's book has an enormous fan base, ... Read More »

Tags: casting, deadline, host, meyer, stephenie, the

Comment by Sarah Cullen on May 3, 2011 at 12:13pm: I'm not a fan of her s :S

Comment by Ivanna Cullen on May 3, 2011 at 12:14pm: omg, i can't belive that they will make a movie, the book is really good, i wonder who'll play Ian

Comment by alli herrera on May 3, 2011 at 12:31pm: omg i love her she is a great actress

Comment by laquever on May 3, 2011 at 12:34pm: I tried to read it and. Could not get in to it and I was really shocked because of I love twilight! I found myself falling a sleep on the 1st chapter ! And I thought the girl was black?but who knows lol maybe when I see the movie I will like. It

Comment by Twilighter76 on May 3, 2011 at 12:42pm: Wow ! I love this ! I know she's 2 years younger but she's a good actress ! laquever- Yes the Host is difficult the first couple of chapters but it's worth it to stick to it ! It's really good.

Comment by laquever on May 3, 2011 at 12:44pm: I will try !"Smiles"but can u give me a lil info on what's it. About?

Comment by Ilithyia Salvatore on May 3, 2011 at 12:44pm: Ok. She IS a really good actress and I like her, but she is NOT Melanie Stryder! BIG screw up!!

Comment by Meagan (maewolf) on May 3, 2011 at 1:23pm: ooooh i dont know, i f****** love this book, so they better do a good job, better than the twilight movies because this book deserves nothing but the best, and dont get me wrong i love the twilight movies and books, but they are pretty cheesy, and this book was more towards adults and older teens, not like the twilight ones...but hmm we shall see, she has done a few things, maybe they can make her look like her better through make up and stuff lol