Jake Abel Set as One of Two Male Leads in Adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s Sci-Fi Novel THE HOST

One of two male leads has been found for director Andrew Niccol’s (In Time) adaptation of Twilight author Stephanie Meyer’s sci-fi novel The Host. Deadline reports that Jake Abel (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) is currently in negotiations to play the role of Ian. The film stars Saoirse Ronan as Melanie, a woman whose body is invaded by an alien named Wanderer. Ian is a young man who brutalizes Wanderer before falling in love with her. The other lead role, Melanie’s boyfriend Jared, has yet to be cast.

We recently reported on a shortlist of actors being considered for the roles of Ian and Jared, and Abel’s name was among them. Deadline’s report says that the role of Jared is now down to a few finalists including Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Max Irons (Red Riding Hood), Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), and Jai Courtney (Spartacus: Blood and Sand). The casting of Jared should be settled soon, as Niccol gears up for production. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of Meyer’s novel.

Here’s the synopsis for The Host:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, didn’t expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she’s never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human. [Amazon]