Male Leads Testing for Stephenie Meyer's The Host

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgOpen Road Films has begun testing for the two male leads in the big screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's THE HOST, reports Variety [1]. Saoirse Ronan (HANNA) is already attached to play Melanie Stryder, 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, but later Melanie must fight the Wanderer's new feelings for Ian.

Up for Jared are Liam Hemsworth (THE HUNGER GAMES), Kit Harington (GAME OF THRONES), Jai Courtney (ONE SHOT) and Max Irons (RED RIDING HOOD). Testing for Ian are Dane DeHaan (IN TREATMENT), Thomas McDonnell (PROM), Augustus Prew (THE BORGIAS) and Jake Abel (THE LOVELY BONES).

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.