The long awaited film adaptation of Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer’s “The Host” is now ready to begin shooting in February, 2012 and casting directors are holding auditions in Los Angeles and Louisiana for co-starring and supporting roles. Casting will also take place in New Orleans and Baton Rouge for day player roles, extras, stand-ins, and photo-doubles for the film’s stars. “The Host” novel was a #1 New York Times Best Seller, and remained on the list for 26 weeks.
“The Host” is a Sci-Fi Thriller that introduces an alien race, called Souls, which takes over the Earth and its inhabitants. Melanie “Mel” Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) is one of the only rebel humans left after the invasion of the “souls”. After insertion into a human body, alien souls erase the human occupant and establish claim over the body and mind. Wanderer is a soul who has lived on eight other planets previously, Mel being her ninth body host. Upon insertion into Melanie, Wanderer is overwhelmed by the vividness of human memories, emotions and senses and quickly learns that she has not established full claim over Melanie’s mind. The title “The Host” comes from the perspective of the main character, Wanderer, because her “host” Melanie forever changes the way she sees the world.
Also starring in “The Host” is Bradley Steven Perry as Jamie Stryder, Melanie’s younger brother. Perry stars in the Disney Channel hit series “Good Luck Charlie” and has appeared in the Disney movies “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure” and “Old Dogs”. Max Irons plays Jared Howe and Jake Abel portrays Ian O’Shea – the two characters that vie for the love of Malanie Stryder, ala Team Jacob and Team Edward. Irons recently had a supporting role in “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke’s “Red Riding Hood”. Abel is best known for “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” for which he was nominated for an MTV Movie Award and Teen Choice Award. Academy Award winner William Hurt rounds out the currently cast roles, playing Melanie’s eccentric uncle Jebediah “Jeb”. Several additional co-starring roles are up for grabs.
Academy award nominated Andrew Niccol will direct “The Host” from an adapted screenplay that he wrote himself. His writer/director credits include Academy Award nominated “Gattaca,” “The Truman Show” which was nominated for three Academy Awards, “The Terminal,” “Lord of War” starring Nicolas Cage, and “In Time” starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried.
Principal photography on “The Host” will begin on February 13, 2012 in Louisiana. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on Easter weekend March 29, 2013 – less than six months after “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ is released in theaters.
Details on how talent can submit for acting roles, and registration information for extras can be found on the following casting post:
Stephenie Meyer’s “The Host” Casting Calls’