Twilight Author Stephanie Meyer's Science Fiction Novel The Host To Be Adapted By Andrew Niccol

Stephanie Meyer, the author of Twilight, evidently writes more than just sparkly teen vampire romances. Her first 'adult' novel is The Host, not to be confused with the Korean monster movie released under that name in the US and other countries. The Host involves interstellar parasites that use people as hosts and remake human society into something very different. (Shades of Robert Heinlein's The Puppet Masters there.) Now, the novel has been bought by independent producers, who have recruited Gattaca writer/director Andrew Niccol to adapt the novel and direct.

As we recently mentioned, Niccol is currently at work on The Cross. But as Variety reports, he'll then turn to The Host, thanks in large part to Meyer's own list of favorite films. When producers Nick Wechsler, Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz asked Meyer what some of her favorite science fiction films are, she mentioned Niccol projects Gattaca and The Truman Show. The trade says he 'sparked' to the job after reading the book and meeting producers and Meyer; the notion of being able to make a film in his preferred genre that could siphon off some of Twilight's audience probably didn't hurt, either.

Here's the Publisher's Weekly description of The Host:

[Benevolent] planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming a host for a Soul [as the parasites call themselves] called Wanderer. Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell led by her uncle, Wanderer is at first hated. Once the rebels accept Wanderer, whom they dub Wanda, Wanda's whole perspective on humanity changes. While the straightforward narrative is short on detail about the invasion and its stunning aftermath, it shines with romantic intrigue, especially when a love triangle (or quadrangle?!) develops for Wanda/Melanie.