It was announced in May, that 17 year old Irish actress Saoirse Ronan would play the lead in the new Stephenie Myer film THE HOST. The film is based on Myer’s 2008 best selling novel of the same name and is not associated with her vampiric Twilight series. Open Road Films has closed the deal for U.S. distribution rights will release the film in March 2013.
Ronan has already impressed many in her short career. Her debut in ATONEMENT (2007) marked her as a talent to watch. She has received acclaim for her performances in Peter Jackson’s THE LOVELY BONES (2009) and Peter Weir’s THE WAY BACK (2010). She also stars in the title role of Joe Wright’s action thriller HANNA (2011). Ronan pronounces her first name “Sersha” and jokes that it rhymes with “inertia”.
THE HOST is about an alien race called Souls who take over Earth, and inhabit the bodies of humans. But when one human refuses to succumb, she and the alien spirit become allies and set off on a search for the man they both love.
The screen adaptation is the work of New Zealand born Andrew Niccol. Niccol is best known for writing The Truman Show and writing and directing the sci-fi film GATTACA. He will also direct THE HOST. Shooting is set to begin in February 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico.
