Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host' Could Begin Filming Next Year
Posted by Naybeth Díaz | Labels: The movie | Posted On Monday 5 April 2010 at 19:53
With the film installments of her "Twilight" novels not yet fully completed, Stephenie Meyer is already well into the development of her next film franchise. According to Deadline.com, the adaptation of the author's first adult novel, "The Host," could go before cameras as early as next year.
Published in 2008, the book involves benevolent yet parasitic aliens who have taken over the minds of almost all the humans on Earth. Upon its release, Meyer described the plot to MTV News as " 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers,' if the aliens had won."
Although financing is not yet in place and no definite shooting schedule is planned for the sci-fi/horror hybrid, producer Steve Schwartz divulged that "Truman Show" Oscar-nominee Andrew Niccol is currently working on his third draft of the screenplay, with the author's close involvement. Niccol is also signed on to direct the film.
Schwartz, who is now budgeting the project with co-producers Paula Mae Schwartz and Nick Wechsler, again noted that Meyer handpicked the filmmaker because Niccol's directorial debut, "Gattaca," is one of her favorite science-fiction films. However, his hire was not immediate.
"We spent time with Andrew," Schwartz explained. "Listened to his vision, introduced Andrew to Stephenie and she responded. There is very good chemistry in this group. Stephenie is a very smart collaborator, and she had an intuitive strong hunch he would be the right guy. Based on the script we've seen, we think she was right."
Fans will have to wait and see if Meyer is also right about her dream cast for the film, which she told MTV News in 2008 includes Robert Redford, Matt Damon and both Ben and Casey Affleck. Another uncertainty is when — or if — Meyer will ever finish her two planned sequels to "The Host."
Regardless of whether or not the adaptation spawns further novels or movies, a 2011 shoot could put "The Host" in theaters before the "Twilight Saga" ends, depending on when the second part to the two-film adaptation of "Breaking Dawn" is released.
Plus, with Meyer's announcement of the "Eclipse" spin-off novella"The short Second life of Bree Tanner", there's now a tease that Summit Entertainment could extend the hot vampire film series even further than a fifth installment.