New Interviews with Writer/Director Andrew Niccol

In interviews with MSN and Backstage, writer/director Andrew Niccol discusses his approach to science fiction, The Host being his first adaptation, having no plan B after Saoirse Ronan, and lengthening shots because of audience reactions.

"Across the Universe: Andrew Niccol Takes on Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host'"

"Andrew Niccol Calls 'The Host' Writer Stephenie Meyer Surprisingly Normal"

"Director Andrew Niccol Talks Humor in 'The Host,' Franchise Expectations, and Separating the Film from 'Twilight'"

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Writer/Director Andrew Niccol Discusses 'The Host' with Film Journal

While Stephenie Meyer and the cast of The Host have been making their rounds to discuss the movie, there has been very little with writer/director Andrew Niccol. Film Journal International had the opportunity to speak with Niccol over the phone and discussed his initial reaction to the novel, casting Saoirse Ronan, working with Stephenie Meyer, and the possibility of returning for sequels.

Niccol's initial reaction to the novel:

"I loved it straightaway. We always talk about those internal conflicts within characters; in this story it's literally true, the fact that there are two spirits in one body."

On casting Saoirse Ronan:

"I find her a very truthful, empathetic actor. Because she's playing an alien being, she had to be very likable, and Saoirse is impossible not to like."

Working with Stephenie Meyer:

"What I love about her is after doing all the Twilight movies, she understands the process. She cares about the book, but she's not precious and knows they're different animals."

On making changes from page to screen:

"When Meyer did nix a change, it often had to do with the two as-yet-unwritten sequels to The Host. Niccol decided that Jake should strum a guitar and sing, even hiring a composer to write the tune. 'I brought it to Stephenie and she said, 'No, music plays an important part in the next book, you have to take it out.' I had to take the guitar away from Jake..."

Will Niccol return for possible sequels?:

"Niccol will likely make more movies between now and the sequel to The Host, and it's unclear if he'll be involved, though he expresses interest. 'They're great characters to keep exploring. The story is very rich and it's a grander theme than her previous work. With Stephenie, it's always going to be a love story, but here it's a greater love: It's about whether we can coexist with each other, even with an alien being. I thought it was a beautiful theme to explore.'"

Read the article in its entirety here.

Jake the Movie Guy Talks 'The Host' with the Cast

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Will 'The Host' & Other Upcoming Adaptations Fill the 'Twilight' Gap?

New York Daily News takes a look at upcoming book to screen adaptations of popular teen books/series, including The Host. 

'THE HOST'
BASED ON: Stephenie Meyer's followup to "Twilight"
HOW TWI-LIKE IS IT? As close as you can get since Meyer's involved.

Saoirse Ronan may want to ask her agent why she's only getting one salary for "The Host." The 18-year-old New York-born actress plays a human girl whose body is taken over and befriended by an alien soul who's part of an invading race out to enslave all of humanity. There's a love rectangle that trumps "Twilight's" triangle.

To help Ronan find her inner conflict, director Andrew Niccol had her record dialogue for her human character and played it back to her when she was in alien mode.

"She wore an earpiece the whole time hidden in her ear where we could play her dialogue to her and she could have conversations with herself," explains Niccol. "So the only people who could hear it were Saoirse and me."

"There was one guy who was basically dedicated to pushing a button for the line to play in her head at the right time, so it became an art," he added. "So she's actually listening to herself and having a conversation with herself. It was freaky to see."

Check out NYDN's profiles of other upcoming projects here.

Monster Love from L.A. Times' Hero Complex & Two New Images

Twilight is over and the Hunger Games' tributes are still doing their pre-game stretches. What are moviegoers to do in their spare time? How about spending some time with the undead, dark, and alien. L.A. Times' Hero Complex chatted with the directors of Warm Bodies, Beautiful Creatures, and The Host about finding their audience and tackling teenage romance. 

From Hero Complex: Romance proved challenging too for writer-director Andrew Niccol, who in his quest to adapt Meyer’s lesser known yet still bestselling novel “The Host” was tasked with creating a believable love-triangle-turned-love-rectangle when his protagonist played by Irish actress Saoirse Ronan (“Atonement”) is invaded by an alien being, nicknamed Wanda, who falls in love with a different boy from the one the host character Melanie loves.

“In this case I think it’s the complexity of this particular relationship [that's attracting audiences],” said Niccol, who collaborated closely with Meyer in adapting her sprawling 650-page novel into a digestible film due out on March 29. His budget was $35 million. The New Zealand director’s previous work included such sci-fi films as “Gattaca” and last year’s Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried vehicle “In Time.”

“I think that’s great for teenage girls who are starting to think romantically about the choices they have. The complexity of that is enticing,” he said.

Check out the entire article here. 

Comic-Con Interview with Meyer and Niccol from Yahoo!

Stephenie Meyer on Working with Director Andrew Niccol

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

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Frances Fisher Discusses Developing Her Role in 'The Host'

Discussion of The Host begins around 3:00.
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Is Andrew Niccol That Special Someone?

Movie Fanatic: Lastly, I interviewed Stephenie Meyer when she released The Host. I told her I would really love to see this as a movie and she said, “I don’t know how it would be done. It would have to be one special filmmaker.” What are your thoughts as you’re diving into adapting it and bringing it to the screen?

Andrew Niccol: I love the subversive nature of this movie. I don’t know why aliens are always portrayed as the enemy. I love that in her book maybe they could be better for our planet. They could co-exist with us. Do you realize right now, there is more bacteria in you and me than there is us. We already co-exist with other species. So, from their point of view, they would ask, “Why are you so individualistic? Why are you all about self?” We can co-exist.

Check out the entire interview here. Niccol's latest, In Time, is out Friday.

Andrew Niccol Says Working on 'The Host' is "Liberating"

You often use science fiction as the means to pass your social commentary. What is it about the science fiction genre that appeals to you?

NICCOL: I think it was Sam Goldwyn who said ‘if you want to send a message, call western union.” So my first obligation is to entertain but as far as science fiction goes, it’s much easier to comment on today from another time because people then aren’t focused on ‘did you get the details right?’ It’s sort of a Trojan horse approach to ideas because it’s wrapped in the future, it’s wrapped in action, thriller and Oh look – suddenly an idea popped out.

The next thing you’re working on is The Host, which you’re adapting. What is the process when you’re working with original material vs. adapting a pre-existing novel?

NICCOL: This is the first time I’m going to be directing someone else’s story and it’s quite liberating actually because I don’t have to make it up. It’s there. It’s very freeing. If you write and direct it, it’s all your fault. There’s no one you can blame.

Check out the entire interview here. 

More Interviews from 'In Time' Premiere - Director Andrew Niccol Talks 'The Host'

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Is There a Sequel (or Two) in the Works?

His next project will be as director and writer of The Host, adapting the best-selling novel by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer about aliens inhabiting human life forms.

"It's a liberating feeling that I'll be directing something I haven't had to make up. It'll be fun. But I have to say, Stephanie gave me her 650-page book to adapt. That's a workout to start with but I've managed to get it down to a script and there are two more movies coming after the initial movie," he says. Clearly, he enjoys a challenge. "Well, yes. At first I thought, 'this is going to be impossible'."

Despite his a resume full of altered realities or futuristic ideas, he doesn't see himself as a sci-fi fan. "I wasn't a sci-fi buff growing up, although my dad is. I didn't even know I was making science fiction when I started my career. I just thought I was telling stories. I didn't know which shelf my movies would end up on in the video shop," he says. "And now that I know, video stores are a thing of the past."

Check out the entire article here.

Andrew Niccol Talks 'The Host'

Direct Andrew Niccol talked a bit about The Host and star Saoirse Ronan at the premiere of his upcoming movie, In Time.




Saoirse Ronan has been hailed as "one of the best talents we have" by the director of the forthcoming Stephanie Meyer adaptation.

In Time director Andrew Niccol has revealed he can't wait to get down to work with Saoirse on the movie adaptation of The Host. The Irish teen is set to play both Melanie Stryder and Wanderer, an extraterrestrial "soul" who takes over her mind, in the film. "It's very early in the process, but she's one of the best talents we have, so I'm really looking forward to working with her," Niccol said.

Niccol was also full of praise for Meyer, who penned the best-selling Twilight novels. "She's a genius," he said. "She made vampire stories for people who don't like vampires, and now she's making sci-fi for people who don't like sci-fi movies.

17-year-old Ronan first attracted attention for her role in 2007's Atonement, and has since starred alongside Colin Farrell in The Way Back and Cate Blanchett in Hanna.

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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.

Director and Star in Place for The Host

Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan has landed the role of Melanie Stryder in the film adaptation of The Host.

Earlier this year it was reported that Emmy nominee Susanna White would helm the film, but Andrew Niccol has since taken over the reins as director/screenwriter.

“Having Andrew at the helm for us is incredibly invigorating as he truly shares Stephenie’s vision on this film,” said Kimberly Fox, Inferno’s President of International Sales.

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