Filming will soon start on the movie adaptation of the Stephenie Meyer novel ‘The Host’ and although most of the major parts have been cast, it looks like they’ve added one more person to the mix. It’s being reported that Frances Fisher has just signed on to join the sci-fi thriller.
Fisher will play Maggie, the stern aunt to Melanie (played by Saoirse Ronan) and sister to Uncle Jeb (played by William Hurt). Maggie and Jeb are among the few human survivors of a parasitic alien species called The Souls who invade the human body and take over.
Fisher may be recognizable to sci-fi fans as she played The Mother in ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day’ and Eva Thorne in the now cancelled Syfy series ‘Eureka.’ She has also appeared in many other films like ‘Gone in Sixty Seconds’, ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’, ‘Unforgiven’, and ‘Titanic.’
The screenplay was written by Andrew Niccol who is also directing the film and it’s been rumored that this is the first of a trilogy of movies from the novel. If you’re not familiar with the novel, here’s a book description from Amazon:
“Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, didn’t expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
As Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she’s never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.
Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.”
Meyer does have a remarkable ability to write about unusual love triangles and this seems to be right up her ally. With Niccols at the helm of the project, I would expect this film to be as popular as her ‘Twilight’ films.
‘The Host’ is set to be released on March 29, 2013 and stars Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Jake Abel, Max Irons and William Hurt.
