An article in Variety magazine (here) talks about how Stephanie Meyer is focusing on The Host, now that her Twilight Saga is coming to a close in theaters. They list Saoirse Ronan as playing Melanie Stryder (previous interviews with Ronan seem to have confirmed her casting in this role). The article goes further to list the actors who will be tested for the leading male roles.
For the role of Jared, Melanie’s romantic interest:
Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
This is a description posted on Wikipedia about Jared’s character: “Jared is 28 years old and Melanie Stryder’s lover. Circumstances always improve for the rebel humans he runs into, due to his great skill. He is seen as loving and somewhat excitable in Melanie’s memories, though the loss of her renders him very bitter. He bears a grudge against Wanda, treats her cruelly, and is unable to empathize with her for most of the book. He eventually develops a closer relationship with her in addition to his extreme devotion to Melanie. He is somewhat of a rival to Ian O’Shea, because Ian sees Jared as a competition for Wanda’s affections. Jared has been looking after Melanie’s younger brother, Jamie, when Melanie was gone. Jamie idolizes Jared and aspires to be like him. In the end of the book when Wanda is taken out of Melanie’s body it is shown that Jared and Melanie are back together and are in a relationship. Jared is described as good-looking, tall, with tan skin, brown eyes and tawny hair.” You can see the original article on Wikipedia here.
For Ian, Wanderer’s love interest:
This is Ian’s description on Wikipedia: “Ian is a kind character described by Wanda to be “as kind as a soul, but strong as only a human could be.” At the start of the book, he has a strong dislike to the souls much like his brother, Kyle. He also tried to kill Wanda when she first came to the caves, but, after a while, he started to like her. Ian falls in love with Wanda, but she explains to him that she can’t love him while in Melanie’s body because Melanie loves Jared and it ‘was in the makeup of her cells’ to like Jared. When Wanda tries to kill herself to give Melanie back Ian snaps and won’t let her leave. In the end of the book, he is in a relationship with Wanda, who had been put into a new host body, the body of Pet (Petals Open To The Moon). Ian is described as tall, with great physical strength, ink-black hair and vivid, “sapphire-blue” eyes.”
As for a financing update, also in the Variety article:
“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.”
We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this, including which, if any, of these actors you would love to see in the parts.
