There’s no arguing that Andrew Niccol’s THE HOST is already a very hot item indeed. Yes, it stars Saoirse Ronan (HANNA), and Niccol is a very interesting creative force (he wrote THE TRUMAN SHOW and GATTACA), but let’s face it: This will be the first Stephanie Meyer adaptation that isn’t called TWILIGHT, and most people are going to be damned interested to see what it will look like.
While the film isn’t due until (most likely) 2013, there’s already a fight to secure the rights to the property. And if what Deadline.com is reporting turns out to be true, there’s a new player emerging in the distribution game, and THE HOST is at the forefront of their coming out party.
Open Road the upstart distribution company formed by theater chains AMC and Regal, is on the verge of acquiring THE HOST for the U.S. If you’re like, “Open Road? WTF?”, you’re not alone. The distributor has come onto the scene this year, and has just one other flick on tap so far: THE KILLER ELITE, starring Jason Statham and Robert De Niro.
THE HOST‘s synopsis:
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. 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.
Production is rumored to begin in January.
UPDATE: Deadline.com reports that Open Road has indeed closed the deal to distribute Niccol’s film. In addition, THE HOST has been given a MARCH 29, 2013 release date.
Saoirse Ronan