Rising thesps Chandler Canterbury and Boyd Holbrook are in final negotiations to round out the cast of Open Road Films’ “The Host,” an adaptation of “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer’s popular sci-fi novel.

Andrew Niccol (“In Time”) is writing and directing the pic, which stars Saoirse Ronan star as protag Melanie Stryder, whose body is invaded by an alien named Wanderer, also to be played by Ronan. Max Irons (“Red Riding Hood”) and Ronan’s “Lovely Bones” co-star Jake Abel will play the male leads, and William Hurt is set to co-star as Melanie’s uncle, who leads the human resistance from its underground headquarters.

Canterbury will play Ronan’s younger brother, who she goes on an arduous journey to find, while Holbrook will play Abel’s macho brother.

Diane Kruger is in negotiations to play The Seeker, an alien peacekeeper who doggedly pursues Wanderer. Several actresses passed on the part including Eva Green, Hayley Atwell and Claire Danes, with Kruger stepping in after opting not to pursue Universal’s untitled sci-fi pic starring Tom Cruise.

Nick Wechsler is producing the pic with Meyer, as well as Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz of Chockstone Pictures. Inferno’s Marc Butan, Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson will exec produce the pic, while Roger Schwartz will co-produce. “The Host” is being financed by the producers and Inferno, which is handling sales. Production is skedded to start at the end of the month in Louisiana and New Mexico, as Open Road will release the film on March 29, 2013.

13-year-old Canterbury is among a group of up-and-coming young actors including Asa Butterfield (“Hugo”), Joel Courtney (“Super 8″), Dakota Goyo (“Real Steel”), Colin Ford (“We Bought a Zoo”), Devin Brochu (“Hesher”) and Thomas Horn (“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”). He has appeared in David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and Alex Proyas’ “Knowing,” and will soon be seen in D.J. Caruso’s “The Goats,” as well as the indie “Plastic Jesus.”

Holbrook, who recently played Kevin Costner’s son in History Channel’s “Hatfields & McCoys,” has appeared in Gus Van Sant’s “Milk” and Vera Farmiga’s “Higher Ground.” Thesp will soon be seen in Julian Farino’s “The Oranges” and Rob Reiner’s “The Summer of Monte Wildhorn.”

Canterbury is repped by UTA, manager Christopher Rockwell and attorney Derek Kroeger, while CAA and Kanner Entertainment rep Holbrook.

Whoa, so it looks like they really ARE going way younger with the characters. Definitely different from the Chris Evans as Kyle and Josh Hutcherson as Jamie fan art that’s so popular in the fandom! What do you guys think?

EXCLUSIVE: Diane Kruger is negotiating to star alongside Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons and Jake Abel in The Host, the Andrew Niccol-directed adaptation of the Stephenie Meyer science fiction novel. The film takes place at a time when a parasitic alien species called The Souls has just about wiped out the human population. The Inglourious Basterds star will play The Seeker, who is charged with overseeing the conversion of a young rebel soldier (Ronan) whose consciousness has been infiltrated by Wanderer, a soul that has taken control of bodies and minds but who is daunted by the young human’s spirit — and obsessed with the memories of her boyfriend and her brother — and sets out to track them down. The Seeker pursues her, knowing that the conversion of the rebel will lead to the discovery and eradication of the rebel movement.

Kruger had been a candidate for a lead role in Universal’s Oblivion but withdrew from consideration and took The Host. While it’s based on one novel by Twilight Saga author Meyer, the movie is being set up as a trilogy. Open Road acquired U.S. distribution rights last year and production will start shortly for a March 29, 2013 release. Nick Wechsler, Chockstone Pictures’ Paula Mae Schwartz and Steve Schwartz are producing with Meyer. UTA reps Kruger.

Yay! What do you guys think?

Oscar-winning actor William Hurt is in talks to join Andrew Niccol’s film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s sci-fi novel The Host, according to a source close to the production. Hurt would play the pivotal role of Jeb, eccentric uncle to Saoirse Ronan’s Melanie Stryder, 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.

Now, as we all know, an actor being ‘in talks’ about a part doesn’t necessarily mean that they are going to get the role. However, EW is generally a credible source. William Hurt has an extensive and impressive resume, which you can find on his IMDB page along with some more photos. When we get any kind of confirmation on this, we will let you know. What are your thoughts/reactions? Let us know in the comments!

(If you need a refresher on Uncle Jeb’s personality and characteristics, check out his Character Biography in the Novel section of our site.)

I don’t think this video is playable outside of the US (so even I can’t view it), but I’ll try to acquire a youtube version soon so everyone can view it! If not, you can check out the video’s accompanying article for full details!

Stephenie Meyer’s ‘The Host’ scoop: Max Irons will play Jared — EXCLUSIVE

The fifth and final Twilight film may be scheduled to release next November, but Stephenie Meyer ain’t done with you yet. Her best-selling 2008 science-fiction novel The Host — her only non-Twilight work to date — is in the process of being turned into a film, so expect to hear plenty of news about it between now and its March 29, 2013 release date. In fact, here’s some right now: The important role of Jared Howe will be played by 26-year-old actor Max Irons, EW has learned.

Irons, son of Oscar-winning and golden-throated actor Jeremy Irons, was last seen in this year’s Red Riding Hood. For this project, he joins director Andrew Niccol (In Time, Gattaca) and the long-attached Saoirse Ronan, who will play Melanie Stryder, a young woman who shares her body with an alien force known as Wanderer. Since no Meyer novel is complete without some complicated relationship geometry, Jake Abel has been cast in the role of Ian, a man who falls in love with Wanderer despite the fact that she is in the body of Melanie who is in love with Jared. Fans of the book, may I suggest you start preparing your visual aids and PowerPoint explanations now.

The film will begin shooting in February in Louisiana and then New Mexico and will mark one of the first productions for Open Road Films, a young distribution company backed by AMC and Regal theater chains.

It’s mind boggling that we now have our trio! What does everyone think about Max as Jared?

EXCLUSIVE: Actor Jake Abel is frontrunner to play one of the two male lead roles in The Host, the adaptation of the science fiction novel by Twilight author Stephenie Meyer that will star Saoirse Ronan and be directed by Andrew Niccol, who wrote the script. Negotiations are expected to begin soon. Abel was chosen from among a group of young thesps and he is negotiating for the role of Ian. The other male lead role of Jake is down to a small circle of actors including Liam Hemsworth (also a finalist to play Bruce Willis’s son in A Good Day To Die Hard), Max Irons, Kit Harington and Jai Courtney. Abel has starred alongside Ronan in The Lovely Bones, and his other recent credits include I Am Number Four and Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Open Road acquired the film for domestic distribution. Abel’s repped by UTA and Anthem Entertainment.

Something wonky is happening with our media uploader, but I’ll add in a photo as soon as I can! Anyway, what does everyone think?!

Stephenie Meyer’s ‘Host’ zeroes in on male leads
Clutch of thesps vying for roles opposite Saoirse Ronan
By JEFF SNEIDER

With the beginning of the end in sight for “The Twilight Saga,” author Stephenie Meyer is turning her attention to the casting search for “The Host,” Andrew Niccol’s feature adaptation of her sci-fi novel.
Saoirse Ronan (“Hanna”) is attached to star as protag Melanie Stryder, whose body is invaded by an alien named Wanderer, who will also be played by Ronan. In the coming days, producers will begin testing actors for the pic’s two male leads.

Liam Hemsworth (“The Hunger Games”), Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones”), Jai Courtney (“One Shot”) and Max Irons (“Red Riding Hood”) will test for the role of Jared, Melanie’s boyfriend. Dane DeHaan (“In Treatment”), Thomas McDonnell (“Prom”), Augustus Prew (“The Borgias”) and Ronan’s “Lovely Bones” co-star Jake Abel will test for the role of Ian, a menacing young man who brutalizes Wanderer before falling in love with her.

Chockstone Pictures principals Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz are producing with Nick Wechsler and Meyer. Inferno’s Marc Butan, Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson will exec produce, while Roger Schwartz will co-produce. “The Host” is being financed by the producers and Inferno, which is handling sales.

Of the lists above, who would you like to see in the roles of Jared and Ian? Do you think these actors have what it takes to play our favourite male leads?

So, we’re here. Sorry we can’t do more to slake your thirst for The Host news, but since actual filming is supposed to start in about 6 months, news should pick up very soon. Keep checking back!

Here’s the full release:

Los Angeles, CA, June 27, 2011 – Open Road Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “The Host,” the big screen adaptation of Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novel. As previously announced, “The Host” will be directed by Andrew Niccol (“Gattaca”), who also wrote the screenplay, and will star Saoirse Ronan (“Hanna,” “The Lovely Bones,” “Atonement”). Open Road Films has set a March 29, 2013 release date (Easter weekend) for “The Host.”

“The Host” producers are Nick Wechsler, Chockstone Pictures’ Paula Mae Schwartz and Steve Schwartz, and Stephenie Meyer. Marc Butan, Jim Siebel, and Bill Johnson of Inferno Entertainment, which is handling international sales, are executive producers. Claudia Bluemhuber of Silver Reel, which is providing mezzanine financing, is also an executive producer. Roger Schwartz and Lizzy Bradford are co-producers.

Principal photography is scheduled to being in February 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico, in anticipation of the wide release on March 29, 2013.

“The Host” is a riveting story about the survival of love and the human spirit in a time of war. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining “wild” humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

The Host, published in 2008, was Stephenie Meyer’s highly anticipated follow-up to the wildly popular and acclaimed Twilight series. The book was #1 on The New York Times Bestseller List for 26 weeks. The “Twilight” film franchise, based on Stephenie Meyer’s beloved and best-selling novels, has grossed over $1.4 billion in worldwide box office ticket sales to date.

Regarding Open Road Films, Stephenie Meyer’s stated, “I’m thrilled to be adding another fantastic partner to an already amazing group. Everyone involved has so much passion for the project. It really is a dream team.”

“We are privileged to partner with Stephenie Meyer and the rest of the filmmaking team for the release of ‘The Host,” added Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films. “Nick Wechsler is a terrific producer and a long time friend and we are honored to be working with Nick and Stephenie – and the wonderful minds of Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz – to bring this epic story of hope to the big screen.”

Producers Nick Wechsler, Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz commented, “We are excited about the passion that Tom Ortenberg and Open Road Films has shown for ‘The Host,’ and we think this is a great opportunity to be partnered with AMC and Regal at the beginning of their new joint venture.”

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Ortenberg, General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Operations and Business Affairs, Elliott Kleinberg, and Senior Vice President of Acquistions Ben Cotner. Rena Ronson of UTA’s Independent Film Group and David Fox of Myman Greenspan Fineman Fox Light LLP, along with Philip Strina of Inferno, negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.