Andrew Niccol‘s film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer‘s sci-fi novel The Host is finally taking shape. After landing Saorise Ronan, I Am Number Four‘s Jake Abel, and Twilight‘s Max Irons, Oscar-winning actor William Hurt may be joining the cast as well.
According to EW, Hurt would be playing the role of Jeb, and eccentric uncle to Melanie Stryder (Ronan), whose “brain is hijacked by the soul of an alien being known as Wanderer.” Jeb is one of the grizzled leaders of the human survivalists fighting the alien invasion. Max Irons will play Jared Howe, with Abel as Ian — the two men who help develop a love triangle with Melanie. Sounds oddly familiar…
So, yes, the novel’s synopsis sounds very Meyer-esque, filled with “planet-hopping parasites” who insert their centipede like shapes into human brains, cure cancer and elimate war to make America a wonderful place to live. However, people of Earth want the tortured, flawed Earth back, including Stryder. She becomes a host for a soul named Wanderer, who helps her search for her loved ones in Arizona.
Now, I’m not the biggest Meyer fan, but the woman does know how to captivate the world’s youth — along with many middle-aged women still clinging onto their teenage years. Even though the story seems pretty mediocre, having an Oscar-winner like Hurt joining the cast could definitely help the project’s credibility. I have no doubt that Ronan will be great as well, with her starring roles in The Lovely Bones and the Oscar-winning Atonement leaving good impressions.
The Host will hit theaters March 29th, 2013.
Have you read the book? If so, would Hurt make a good Jeb?