Jake Abel in Stephenie Meyer’s The Host Promo

• Tweet
• Pin It

Our first look at Jack Abel as Ian O’Shea in The Host has hit the web via EW. Stephenie Meyer’s follow-up of her Twilight Saga novels takes a more science fiction bent and stars Saoirse Ronan. The Host is directed by Andrew Niccol who definitely has a handle of SF, and I think was kind of a coup as pick-up to helm this movies. He not only directs the film, but he also wrote the screenplay. Niccol wrote The Truman Show and Gattaca, and is credited for “story” for Terminal. He also wrote and directed Lord of War, a film that I didn’t think was terrible and seemed to get hit with the just dislike whatever Nic Cage is in syndrome of the time (which may still be going on).

related | TWILIGHT BREAKING DAWN’S MEYER REVEALS THE HOST TEASER

Abel was in another supernatural movie with Ronan, Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones (which also had Saoirse in the main role), but is probably best known for his role in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief(he’s also slated to be in the sequel) as Luke Castellan. Along with the photo, EW also had a very short Q&A with Abel about The Host, specifically regarding working with both Meyer and Niccol and the many facets of bringing  Ian O’Shea to life.

I’m adding the description of The Host novel below:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she’s never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

Photo credit: Alan Markfield