Stephenie Meyer’s THE HOST Grabs Abel Lead for Saoirse Ronan

Jake Abel is no stranger to roles in movies adapted from YA books and now it looks like he might be adding another one to his resume as he becomes frontrunner for a lead role in Stephenie Meyer’s The Host.

Abel, who has appeared in The Lovely Bones, I Am Number Four and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, apparently has the look that fits the YA genre because book-to-movie adaptations seem to be becoming his niche. The trend continues as Deadline brings word that negotiations should begin soon for Abel to appear in The Host as Ian, a tough guy that hands out harsh treatment to Wanderer, an alien that’s possessing an Earth woman named Melanie. Eventually, Ian overcomes his thuggish tendencies and becomes attracted to Wanderer.

Saoirse Ronan, who also appeared with Abel in The Lovely Bones, has the role of Melanie while the other male lead, Melanie’s boyfriend, is being chased after by Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Max Irons (Red Riding Hood), Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), and Jai Courtney (Spartacus: Blood and Sand).

Andrew Niccol, who wrote The Truman Show, The Terminal, and In Time, is directing, which might be a little comforting to those who aren’t into sparkly vampires and feel compelled to avoid Meyer’s work because of her connection to the Twilight saga. While there are plenty of ways for The Host to go wrong, I think Niccol will keep things on track.