Production Coming to an End in New Mexico

The New Mexico Film Office says movie crews are wrapping up production this week of a movie called "The Host."

The movie stars Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons and others.

Shooting took place in and around Albuquerque, Farmington and Shiprock. And the film office says the production employed some 45 New Mexico crew members and 10 New Mexico actors.

The movie is based on the best-selling novel by Twilight Saga author Stephenie Meyer. It's a story about earth being taken over by peaceful aliens.

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'The Host' to Begin Filming in New Mexico on April 9th

The Host is wrapping up its stay in Louisiana and heading to New Mexico in April. A casting call for the New Mexico portion of production lists filming dates as April 9th - April 28th. The locations include the cities of Albuquerque and Farmington.

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Stephenie Meyer Updates Her Site with Exciting 'Host' Updates- Including Casting News

After a long period of radio silence, Host author Stephenie Meyer brings exciting news for all us fans on her site.

Meyer on the start of production:

The Host begins filming this coming Monday the thirteenth, and I am so excited. It's somewhat of a dream to have the creator and director of my favorite sci-fi film (Gattaca) helming this movie. I love the script he's written, I love his beautiful vision, and I love working with him.

On William Hurt's Jeb beard:

Just the other day I got to meet William Hurt (!!) in full Jeb beard and hair, and it kind of choked me up. He looks amazing—they all look amazing!—and I can't wait to see them in action next week.

Titanic star Frances Fisher joins the cast:

Welcome, Frances, I couldn't be happier that you've chosen to join us!

Meyer on the sets:

It's massive and beautiful, and walking around inside is like walking around inside my imagination.

A little tease for fans:

Check back to this page soonish, as I will have some very exciting news to share about upcoming chance for you to get involved with The Host. Stay tuned!

Read the entire update here.

Can I get a collective "OMG!!"?

'The Host' to Begin Filming February 13th

In an article reporting the sale of author Cormac McCarthy's spec script, it was revealed filming on The Host will commence February 13th in Baton Rouge before heading to New Mexico.

Star Jake Abel (Ian O'Shea) recently took to twitter, leaving crumbs of information about his wardrobe and workout routine.

With production just around the corner, we should be hearing more casting announcements. New additions to the cast will join Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, and Oscar winner William Hurt in Andrew Niccol's adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's bestselling novel.

The Host is set for release March 29, 2013. 

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'Red Riding Hood' Star Max Irons Set to Play Jared Howe

From Entertainment Weekly:

The fifth and final Twilight film may be scheduled to release next November, but Stephenie Meyer ain’t done with you yet. Her best-selling 2008 science-fiction novel The Host — her only non-Twilight work to date — is in the process of being turned into a film, so expect to hear plenty of news about it between now and its March 29, 2013 release date. In fact, here’s some right now: The important role of Jared Howe will be played by 26-year-old actor Max Irons, EW has learned.

Irons, son of Oscar-winning and golden-throated actor Jeremy Irons, was last seen in this year’s Red Riding Hood. For this project, he joins director Andrew Niccol (In Time, Gattaca) and the long-attached Saoirse Ronan, who will play Melanie Stryder, a young woman who shares her body with an alien force known as Wanderer. Since no Meyer novel is complete without some complicated relationship geometry, Jake Abel has been cast in the role of Ian, a man who falls in love with Wanderer despite the fact that she is in the body of Melanie who is in love with Jared. Fans of the book, may I suggest you start preparing your visual aids and PowerPoint explanations now.

The film will begin shooting in February in Louisiana and then New Mexico and will mark one of the first productions for Open Road Films, a young distribution company backed by AMC and Regal theater chains.

Thoughts? 

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Here's What We Know So Far...

From MTV:
Star: In May, we learned "Hanna" actress Saoirse Ronan would assume the dual role of Melanie/Wanderer, an interesting casting choice seeing as Melanie is described as a brunette in her 20s. Though Saoirse certainly isn't the first fair-haired actress to undergo a makeover for a sure-to-be huge literary adaptation...

Melanie/Wanderer is the only role filled to date, so we're dying to know who will play her love interest Jared. When the film was first announced way back in 2009, we cast Chris Pine in the pivotal role, but with producers casting a younger Melanie, we think someone like Steven R. McQueen would be a perfect fit for the part.

Director: The director's chair has seen plenty of back and forth over the past two years. Originally, screenwriter Andrew Niccol was attached to direct his script but backed out to helm the Justin Timberlake-starring "In Time" instead. Susanna White ("Nanny McPhee Returns") took over the reins briefly, but now Andrew is back behind the camera.

Filming date/location: The adaptation is scheduled to begin filming in February 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico, meaning Andrew has a little more than seven months to round out his cast of scrappy survivors.

The Host Gets a Release Date

From Deadline.com

Open Road Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “The Host,” the big screen adaptation of Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novel. As previously announced, “The Host” will be directed by Andrew Niccol (“Gattaca”), who also wrote the screenplay, and will star Saoirse Ronan (“Hanna,” “The Lovely Bones,” “Atonement”). Open Road Films has set a March 29, 2013 release date (Easter weekend) for “The Host.”

Principal photography is scheduled to being in February 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico, in anticipation of the wide release on March 29, 2013.

Regarding Open Road Films, Stephenie Meyer's stated, "I'm thrilled to be adding another fantastic partner to an already amazing group. Everyone involved has so much passion for the project. It really is a dream team."

“We are privileged to partner with Stephenie Meyer and the rest of the filmmaking team for the release of ‘The Host,” added Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films. “Nick Wechsler is a terrific producer and a long time friend and we are honored to be working with Nick and Stephenie - and the wonderful minds of Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz - to bring this epic story of hope to the big screen.”

Producers Nick Wechsler, Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz commented, “We are excited about the passion that Tom Ortenberg and Open Road Films has shown for ‘The Host,’ and we think this is a great opportunity to be partnered with AMC and Regal at the beginning of their new joint venture.”

Now that all that is settled, hopefully casting will soon be underway.