As production on director Andrew Niccol’s (In Time) adaptation of the Stephanie Meyer sci-fi novel The Host nears closer, casting continues and now it looks like William Hurt may be joining the project. The film stars Saoirse Ronan as Melanie, a young woman whose body is invaded by an alien name Wanderer. Max Irons plays a young man in love with Melanie and Jake Abel plays a young man in love with Wanderer (super creepy/strange love triangle!). EW reports that Hurt is in talks to play Melanie’s eccentric uncle Jeb, a man who serves as one of the leaders of the human survivalists who are battling the alien invasion.

Niccol wrote and will direct the pic, which sounds intriguing despite the Twilight-esque romantic angle. The cast is impressive, and Niccol never disappoints when it comes to unique storytelling (though the execution of that unique storytelling is sometimes uneven). Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the novel. The Host opens March 29th, 2013.

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]