Saoirse Ronan to star in The Host, based on book by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer

Saoirse Ronan is a scary good actress. Probably one of the best we have right now regardless of age. She just recently kicked plenty of ass in Joe Wright's hit-kid flick, Hanna, and we await word on her possible involvement in The Hobbit. As if that wasn't big enough for her, she's about to jump into dual roles as part of The Host, which is based on a novel by Stephanie Meyer.

That's right, Meyer wrote other crap besides Twilight, and if you think that tepid battle between vamps and hairy Native Americans is bonkers, check out the plot for The Host, provided by Deadline...

Melanie Stryder,  is one of the last humans putting up a fight against an alien species called Souls. These parasites invade human bodies, fuse to each person's consciousness and systematically erase their personalities. Melanie is captured by the aliens and implanted by a Soul called Wanderer, something of a legend because of all of the "hosts" she has attached to on numerous planets. Wanderer's goal is to get Melanie to give up the remaining pockets of humans, but instead the alien finds Melanie to be unique in her unwillingness to surrender her consciousness. Wanderer is so overwhelmed by Melanie's memories and feelings, the alien is driven to reconnect with Melanie's old life.

Ronan will be taking on both roles of Melanie and Wanderer, which should provide a unique challenge for the actress. Meyer wrote the novel back in 2008, and when we last reported on the adaptation, Susanna White(Nanny McPhee Returns) was going to be at the helm with Andrew Niccol(Gattaca) scripting. Well that's all changed. White is out, and Niccol, who Meyer had wanted to direct all along, is now back as the lead contender for the job.


So it's more off-the-wall love stories for the teeny boppers to swoon over, only this one will be between a human and extraterrestrial. Or even more interesting, Ronan and Ronan. Meyer has said that she'd like to turn The Host into a trilogy of novels, so could this be her next big film franchise as well?