As The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 gears up for release next year, ending that popular franchise's run, Open Road films is already moving forward on the next Stephenie Meyer novel adaptation with The Host.

This sci-fi tale revolves around a hostile alien takeover, where extraterrestrials hijack the brains of unsuspected humans to conrol their bodies and take over the wolrd. William Hurt is currently in talks to play the pivotal role of Jeb, the eccentric uncle of heroine Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan). Jeb is one of the human survivalist leaders who has lead the war against this alien threat.

Production on The Host is set to start early next year. Max Irons and Jake Abel have also joined the project.