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Niccol Says Saoirse Ronan Will Be “Fantastic” in The Host

Oct 25,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with No Comments
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Andrew Niccol, director of The Host, is interview about his new movie In Time, but around 1:15 he starts talking about The Host!  He mentions how it’s his first screen adaptation and that condensing the 600 page book into one movie was like a “workout.”  He says we should be expecting casting news soon (but drops no hints).  He does say, however, that Saoirse Ronan is going to be “fantastic.”



Checking In

Aug 06,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 3 Comments
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I just wanted to let everyone know that this site is most definitely not dead. We continue to scout for news daily, but there just hasn’t been anything to report. We decided long ago to keep the focus of this site only on The Host and not on Stephenie Meyer’s other projects, so we’re sorry that things are slow, but there’s just nothing new we can tell you about The Host movie or potential sequels. There’s just no news at the moment besides a rumor or two that do not seem credible. We don’t want to report on rumors until they come from a more trusted source.

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!



Filming dates/locations, release date, & Ronan’s casting

Jun 27,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 7 Comments
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Deadline has published the official press release from The Host movie distributor, Open Road Films. This is the first official statement from any of the companies involved in making the movie that states that Saoirse Ronan has been cast as Melanie Stryder, so it appears her casting has been officially confirmed. The release also says that The Host movie is going to be release March 29, 2013. Finally, a definite date! Also, “principal photography is scheduled to being in February 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico” so fans in Louisiana and New Mexico, get your cameras ready!

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.



New Gallery Layout

May 31,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 3 Comments
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It’s past time for us to change the Gallery layout, so the oh-so-wonderful, friend of the site, Ana made us a truly gorgeous header.

(She made it before any news of Saoirse Ronan’s casting had been announced, so the layout features fan-favorite Sophia Bush. Since Ronan’s casting has not been confirmed by an official press release from Chockstone Pictures or Inferno Entertainment, we don’t want to get our hopes up by putting her in all our layouts just yet anyway.)

In addition, we updated the version of the Coppermine gallery to the latest version, so enjoy the new ease of the system.

So check out the newly beautified The Host Fan Gallery, which currently hosts almost 500 pieces of fanart from icons to wallpapers to banners and more! While you’re there, feel free to register and upload your own work.

As soon as we have confirmation of Saoirse Ronan’s casting – hopefully soon – we’ll begin adding pictures of her as well. :)



‘The Host’: sci-fi starrer a hot title at Cannes

May 15,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 7 Comments
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Looks like ‘The Host’ is going to be available in theaters all over the world and not just in the United States. Variety reports that the distribution rights for the film have been picked up by companies from Germany to Russia to Portugal and more! The movie has yet to be picked up in the United States, but apparently they are in “advanced discussions” with several distributors.

The article also says Inferno is eying a January start date. They most likely mean they plan to start filming in January, but it is not specific. It is possible that they will have more pre-production work in January and that filming would start soon after that.

Here’s the full article: Making the most of Meyer’s ‘Host’

EXCLUSIVE: Inferno Entertainment has nearly pre-sold all international territories for Stephenie Meyer’s pic “The Host,” one of the hot titles at this year’s Cannes market.

Pic, from “The Twilight Saga” scribe and toplining Saoirse Ronan, went to Entertainment Film Distributors in Blighty, Metropolitan Filmexport in France, DeAPlaneta in Spain and TeleMunchen for Germany and Switzerland.

Other deals include Italy (Eagle), Benelux (Independent Films), Australia (Hoyts), Greece and Cyprus (Italia Film), Iceland (Sam Film), Russia (West), Israel (United King), Portugal (Lusomundo), Scandinavia (Mis Label), Turkey (Italia Film), Latin America (Swen), Hong Kong (Tomson Intl.) and China (Fundamental Films).

Deals for Canada and South Korea are in final negotiations and while the pic has yet to nab a U.S. release, Inferno is in advanced discussions with several domestic distribs.

Pic, helmed by Andrew Niccol (who also adapted the screenplay of Meyer’s tome), is produced by Paula Mae Schwartz, Steve Schwartz, Nick Wechsler and Meyer while Inferno’s Marc Butan, Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson are exec-producers. Roger Schwartz serves as co-producer.

Producers are financing the pic with Inferno, which kicked off sales with a bang in Cannes last week. Meyer descended upon the Croisette to meet with buyers. The efforts proved worthwhile as pic had bidding wars in multiple territories all keen to get their hands on the next project from the woman behind the “Twilight” cash cow.

Pic is eyeing a January start date.

January sounds like a long way away at the moment, but at least plans are firming up in all respects to make sure ‘The Host’ movie actually gets made.



Andrew Niccol To Direct Saoirse Ronan In ‘The Host’

May 12,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 3 Comments
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Hot off the presses from Cannes!

Cannes: Andrew Niccol To Direct Saoirse Ronan In Stephenie Meyer’s ‘The Host’

EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Niccol has been set as the director of The Host, directing his scripted adaptation of the bestselling novel by Twilight Saga author Stephenie Meyer. The project, which is being shopped here at Cannes by Inferno Entertainment and producers Nick Wechsler and Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz, will star Saoirse Ronan.

After resisting overtures to sell the book, Meyer finally entrusted it with the producers, who gave her strong creative input. She chose Niccol originally because she was a fan of his film Gattaca and script for The Truman Show. While Niccol adapted the book into the current script, he exited to make the film Now, which he has completed with Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy starring. The producers went down the road with several directors, but talks with Niccol to return started heating up in recent weeks. Ronan ramped up interest in the film when she was set to star.

Ronan will play Melanie Stryder, one of the last humans putting up a fight against an alien species called Souls. These parasites invade human bodies, fuse to each person’s consciousness and systematically erase their personalities. The story follows Melanie as she is captured by the aliens and implanted by a Soul called Wanderer, something of a legend because of all of the “hosts” she has attached to on numerous planets. Wanderer’s goal is to get Melanie to give up the remaining pockets of humans, but instead the alien finds Melanie to be unique in her unwillingness to surrender her consciousness. Wanderer is so overwhelmed by Melanie’s memories and feelings that she is driven to reconnect with Melanie’s old life, which includes falling for Melanie’s boyfriend. The result is a complex, romantic and emotional human/alien love triangle.

Inferno’s Marc Butan, Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson are executive producers, and Roger Schwartz is co-producer. Inferno and the producers are financing the film, with Inferno kicking off foreign sales this week.

“Having Andrew at the helm for us is incredibly invigorating as he truly shares Stephenie’s vision on this film,” said Kimberly Fox, Inferno’s President of International Sales. “We literally began sales this week and the response from the international community, and from domestic buyers, has been beyond our highest expectations. We expect to have every territory in the world sold out very shortly, and then it’s about getting to the exciting part of making the movie.”

Although a formal announcement has still not been made about Ronan’s casting, her continued mention of involvement in the movie is a strong sign that she will be playing Melanie Stryder. She is likely waiting for the movie to get a distributor before she signs on the dotted line. Hopefully they’ll get to that making the movie part very soon!



Saoirse Ronan quitting ‘The Hobbit’ for ‘The Host’

May 07,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 4 Comments
Filed in casting, movie, news

Saoirse Ronan has announced to the Belfast Telegraph, in an article published this Thursday, that she will not be taking a part in ‘The Hobbit’ movie adaptation:

Saoirse Ronan has revealed she will not be playing woodland elf Itaril in ‘The Hobbit.’

The Hanna star had been in talks to star in ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ prequel, directed by Peter Jackson, who she worked with on ‘The Lovely Bones,’ but has now signed up to star in ‘The Host.’

Saoirse revealed: “It’s probably not going to work out with ‘The Hobbit’ unfortunately.

“Because I would have been working for about a year on it and there were other projects that I was very interested in, but Pete and [his producer wife] Fran have been very good about it and very understanding.

Looks like ‘The Hobbit’ has lost out, but to our benefit!

Note: There is interview from IndieLondon circulating around The Host fansites. In this interview Saoirse Ronan said regarding her casting in ‘The Host’ that, “Nothing is actually for definite yet.” This interview does not have a date on it, however, and may be been done before Ronan’s casting became official. Also, it is important to note that Deadline, who announced the casting, is a very reliable source. Therefore, the information from from IndieLondon should be viewed with skepticism.

It is important to remember that nothing is set in stone until we get an official casting announcement from Chockstone Pictures or Ronan’s representation.



Clevver TV talks Saorise Ronan’s Casting in ‘The Host’ movie

May 05,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 5 Comments
Filed in casting, movie, news, video

They say that casting for ‘The Host’ movie is in “full force.” They also opine, “Twi-hards are likely looking forward to another movie from Stephenie and hearing that it’s going to star an actress with the performance level of Saoirse is very, very good news.”

Not much new in this video, but they don’t seem to acknowledge that The Host has a separate fan base. I’m not so happy with the Twi-hard label; anyone have any ideas for a name for fans of The Host before we get labeled by the entertainment media?



Saoirse Ronan cast as Melanie Stryder!

May 03,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 28 Comments
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Out of nowhere, our first casting news has dropped out of the sky. We finally have our Melanie Stryder! The full article exclusive from Deadline is below.

‘Twilight Saga’ Author Stephenie Meyer’s ‘The Host’ Lands Saoirse Ronan To Star

EXCLUSIVE: Saoirse Ronan has been set to star in “The Host,” the screen adaptation of the bestselling novel by Twilight Saga author Stephenie Meyer. Scripted by Andrew Niccol, the film figures to be one of the hot titles when Inferno launches sales at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival next week. Niccol, who was originally set to direct, might resurface as the filmmaker.

Ronan, the Oscar-nominated star of “Atonement,” “The Lovely Bones,” and most recently “Hanna,” will play Melanie Stryder, one of the last humans putting up a fight against an alien species called Souls. [Ronan's IMDb page] These parasites invade human bodies, fuse to each person’s consciousness and systematically erase their personalities. Melanie is captured by the aliens and implanted by a Soul called Wanderer, something of a legend because of all of the “hosts” she has attached to on numerous planets. Wanderer’s goal is to get Melanie to give up the remaining pockets of humans, but instead the alien finds Melanie to be unique in her unwillingness to surrender her consciousness. Wanderer is so overwhelmed by Melanie’s memories and feelings, the alien is driven to reconnect with Melanie’s old life.

The concept is more of a visual challenge than Meyer’s Twilight Saga books, but one thing they plan is for Ronan to play both Melanie and Wanderer. Meyer’s book has an enormous fan base, and the author had long resisted offers to sell it. She finally made a deal two years ago with producers Nick Wechsler and Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz, who’d done the adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” together. They deliberately developed the script outside the studio system, and invited the author to be very hands on in the adaptation. Meyer was involved down to choosing Niccol because she was such a fan of his films Gattaca and his script for The Truman Show. Niccol wrote the script to direct, but left to direct “Now” with Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy. “Nanny McPhee Returns” director Susanna White was briefly attached, but that isn’t happening. Niccol, now done with his film, is once again in the mix as possible helmer. Inferno’s Marc Butan, Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson are exec producing and Roger Schwartz is co-producer. The film’s being funded by the producers and Inferno.

Meyer and Wechsler will attend the festival to present the project to buyers with the Inferno team.

So not only has Melanie been cast, but Niccol may be back as director!

Head over to The Host Fan Forum to discuss what you think of Ronan’s casting.



Sorry for the Service Hiccup

May 02,2011

Posted by Elisabeth with 1 Comment
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Sorry to any of you who may have tried to visit the site today and saw an ad page. I recently had a death in the family and have been so distracted I forgot to pay for this month’s hosting.

Anyway, I just wanted to assure you that The Host Fan is not closing. We’ve all seen websites suddenly come and go, but we’re not going anywhere. Things may be a little slow at the moment, but we’re still here as your #1 resource. :)