The Host Casts Second Male Lead

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgMax Irons (RED RIDING HOOD) has been cast as the second male lead in the big screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's THE HOST, reports EW [1]. He joins Saoirse Ronan and Jake Abel.

The story follows Melanie Stryder (Ronan), a teenage human who rebels against the alien "souls" that possess all human beings. Once the alien Wanderer enters Melanie's body she has a hard time taking over and falls in love with Melanie's boyfriend Jared (Irons), but later Melanie must fight the Wanderer's new feelings for Ian (Abel).

Andrew Niccol (IN TIME) is directing. Chockstone Pictures' Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz and Nick Wechsler and Meyer are the producers. Inferno's Marc Butan, Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson are the exec producers with Roger Schwartz co-producing.

Inferno will rep international sales. Filming will start early 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico. Open Road plans to release the film on March 29, 2013.