Starring in an adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's first big post-Twilight novel may seem like an odd fit for an actor the caliber of William Hurt. That's because it is. In his more than thirty years on the silver screen, Hurt has mostly maintained a low key reputation, even as he's earned multiple Academy Award nominations and winning one for Kiss of the Spider Woman. It's been an interesting few years for him, though, maintaining a diversity in the films he's undertaken that's been the hallmark of his career. For one, he got to co-star alongside Kristen Stewart in the little seen but remarkable indie, The Yellow Handkerchief. And aside from a stinker of a role in a stinker of a film in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, he almost made me give a crap about douchebag Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in Too Big To Fail. Almost.
Back to the aforementioned Stephanie Meyer, Hurt has now entered talks to join the adaptation of her young adult sci-fi romance novel, The Host. The confusing as heck story takes place in a future earth where humans have been taken over by benevolent alien invaders, who possess their minds but leave the bodies intact. Saoirse Ronan plays the dual role of Melanie Stryder, a strong willed human seeking the rest of the human resistance. When she's taken over by an older "soul" named Wanderer, Mel's strength of spirit is too much to control completely, causing a conflict. Hurt would take on the crucial role of Jeb, Mel's uncle and one of the last remaining members of the human resistance.
Max Irons and Jake Abel co-star, forming part of the strange love rectangle that includes both Mel and Wanderer. Andrew Niccol(In Time, Gattaca) is both writing and directing, with a planned release on March 29th 2013.[EW]
