Twilight Watch: 'Breaking Dawn' Theories Abound, 'The Host' Rocks
Filed under: Fandom, Movie Marketing
Whew. Now that I'm back from Cannes, it's time to dive back into checking out what's going on in the world outside the glamor and glitz of the world's sexiest film industry trade show. Of course, one of the first things I wanted to catch up on was what's been going on in the world of Twilight fandom. Before leaving for Cannes, I snagged a copy of Stephenie Meyer's' newest book, The Host, and I devoured it every night while on the trip.
Quick thoughts on The Host: Compelling and dramatic story, great characters, and it pretty much has "adapt me into a movie, please!" written all over it. For those not in the know, the book is a tale about an alien invasion by a race of intelligent parasitic beings who take over the body of a host and obliterate the "soul" of the person who previously resided there.
If you're a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation (or sci-fi in general), this "we seek peaceful co-existence" line isn't a new concept, but the way in which Meyer handles it is great. In a nutshell, an alien named Wanderer takes over a host, Melanie, but finds that Melanie refuses to go away as her previous hosts did. Melanie floods Wanderer with memories and feelings about her younger brother, Jamie, and her love, Jared, and Wanderer finds herself feeling for them the way Melanie does.
Meyer uses this set-up to explore ideas around cultural understandings and misconceptions -- through Melanie, Wanderer comes to question the ethics of the way her species survives, and through Wanderer, Melanie comes to understand the alien invaders and see them in a different light. The story deals with issues of humanity, ethical behavior, culture and community, and the nature of love. It's a really great set-up for a film, and I won't be surprised if an adaptation deal is in the works (if there's already a deal I haven't heard of, please enlighten me, I've been a bit out of the loop). If you have thoughts already on who you'd love to see cast in a film version of The Host (oh, you know you do), weigh in with your suggestions.
While The Host has temporarily sated the thirst of Meyer fans eagerly waiting both the August release of the fourth book in the series, Breaking Dawn, and the December release of the first Twilight movie, I expect that most hardcore Twilighters are chomping at the bit. Over on Twilight Lexicon, they've been posting threads from the discussion forum on Breaking Dawn theories and speculation, and Holy Cullen, are those Twilight fans serious about this book.
They've been discussing everything from whether Charlie, Bella's father, will finally find out the truth about the vampires and werewolves in Forks, and his own daughter's plans to join her love, Edward, as a vampire; whether the ending of the third book foretells an ultimate showdown battle in Breaking Dawn between the vampires and werewolves, or between Jake and Edward, or both; whether the Volturi will show up in the fourth book to try to take down the Cullen clan; whether Bella's aversion to blood will make her transition into a vampire babe easier, or more difficult; and what, if any, "special power" Bella might have as a vampire.
If you're not a fan of the series, you may find it hard to believe that folks can discuss a coming book this endlessly (though, of course, Harry Potter fans did much the same in anticipating each book in that series), but boy, can they ever. So, all you Twilighters, Twilight Moms, and Twilight Teens -- dive right in and share and discuss your thoughts, both on Breaking Dawn, and the possibilities of The Host as a movie down the road. Oh, and that little Twilight movie, too ...










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-29-2008 @ 10:08PM
Cocoa said...
Thank you for the nod Kim. Its been fun counting down 'till the big release of the first chapter this Saturday. You should consider poping over and joining the theory break down. We wold love to hear your thoughts.
~Cocoa
www.twilightlexicon.com
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5-30-2008 @ 1:44AM
Amy said...
Personally I can't wait for the 4th book! I think about it all the time.
Don't know about Charlie (he seems like he'd rather not know the truth) but I bet the werewolves help the Cullens take down the Volturi if the Volturi try to crash the wedding---now that would be awesome!!
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6-04-2008 @ 8:50AM
Natasha said...
I can't wait for the fourth book either! And they're releasing the Eclipse Special Edition tomorow so I'm waiting.. It seems like forever, doesn't it? Anyway, thanks for the awesome article(:
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5-30-2008 @ 7:33AM
dbert said...
I can barely wait for the new book to come out, the movie etc... and if it wasn't for fanfic's or the lexicon, I'd be depressed and mopey... Thanks for the great article
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5-30-2008 @ 8:10AM
Aisling Cullen said...
Yep, I'm sure I'm not the only one eagerly (desperately...) awaiting the fourth book...prowling the net for updates obsessively...
Anyway, check out an excerpt from the first chapter right now!
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20203238,00.html
Enjoy =)!
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5-30-2008 @ 1:13PM
Alcyone said...
Hardcore Twilight fans. Gotta love 'em. ;) We already have a good discussion going as to who you would cast in the Host movie over at The Host Index (http://www.thehostindex.net/ in case you would like to see some of the suggestions). It's nice hearing others also think this book has a "MAKE ME INTO A MOVIE NOW!" sign printed all over its cover.
Alcyone
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5-30-2008 @ 6:37PM
Kendall said...
DON'T MAKE THE HOST INTO A MOVIE!!!!
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6-22-2008 @ 10:45PM
Tfan said...
I Can't Agree more too much of the Host is about the internal relationship between wanda and Mel. It would also (in my opinion be next to impossible to truly express both characters with the same actor.
7-23-2008 @ 6:31PM
maeve said...
i totally disgaree i think it wud be a great movie if u dont think an actress could play both i think you shud refer to heroes where ali larter plays niki sanders and her multiple personalitie disorder very well
i think this can be achived but a lot of thinking would have to go behind it and a lot of hard work but i would love to see it made into a movie!
p.s bring on breaking dawn and twilight the movie cant wait for either
7-24-2008 @ 3:13PM
Val said...
I totaly agree with you! I mean, I don't even think the Twilight movie is a good idea!!! Some books are just meant to be that... BOOKS!!! don't ruin them!!! Let the people use their imagination!!! ¬¬ I am REALLY upset right now...
6-01-2008 @ 10:34PM
emily said...
first of all i just finished reading the host and i absolutely loved it great job stephenie!!!! its tottaly different from twilight yet stephenie's farmiliar and comforting voice rang through every chapter. also i think that Megan Fox would be a perfect candidate for melanie/wanda if the host should become a movie
what do you think?
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6-03-2008 @ 9:46AM
Threnody said...
I loved the host. It was amazing! Just as good as the Twilight series, perhaps even better. But they are in different categories, so its hard to compare them.
The Host grabbed me from page 1. I cried alot- more than I did during Twilight, it was so emotional. And I think I fell in love with Ian even more than I did for edward.
I would LOVE for it to become a movie. My only concern would be how well they could pull it off. I am already VERY concerned about Twilight.
I AM A HARDCORE STEPHANIE MEYER FAN!!!!!!!!!!
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6-03-2008 @ 9:20PM
ariellll said...
i DO NOT think the Host should be made into a movie.
how the heck would you do the whole Melanie/Wanderer thing????
no one would get it unless they read the book.
it would be extremely complicated.
THE HOST SHOULD NOT BE MADE INTO A MOVIE!
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6-04-2008 @ 12:44AM
Kaylabella said...
I really loved The Host. Although it was a little slow to start, once I got past a certain point, I was unable to put it down for more than a few minutes.
In regards to a Host movie, I think it would be interesting to see how the other worlds could be illustrated on film, not to mention the complexity of Mel and Wanda's relationship. I'm not sure how they could pull the inner dialogue off, but I'd like to see them try.
As for the actors in the movie, only a couple of actors provide an acurate, to me, representation of the characters. Ian Somerhalder for Ian O'Shea, he is who i pictured from the beginning, and Jeff Bridges as Jeb.
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7-24-2008 @ 5:26AM
maeve said...
oh i agree with ur choice for jeb but i always imagined ian and his brother to be like the mitchell brothers from eastenders for some reason i dunno its prob just me
6-05-2008 @ 7:46PM
Amanda said...
i loved the host... it was a darker more violent book compared to the twilight series. i really enjoyed the way stephenie wrote this book. in the idea of the book being made into a movie i would totally suggest Missy Peregrym as Melanie/Wanderer and of course (i know you will hate me for suggesting it ) Kellan Lutz as Ian... jared kinda has me stuck... Jim Sturgess maybe?? hmmm... i'll need to think on it...
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6-05-2008 @ 12:46PM
Jill said...
I think evangeline lilly would be a perfect melanie/wanda
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6-13-2008 @ 2:55AM
Billy said...
All I have to say is if the Host is made into a Movie is this
Jeb should be played by George Carlin
Jared should Ryan Reynolds
Melanie/Wanda should be either Mila Kunis or America Ferrera
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6-15-2008 @ 1:43AM
Sydney said...
As much as I would LOVE to deny this, I think that in the fourth book Jacob steals Bella from Edward before the wedding. I have a lot of proof... Like the preface in the first chapter of the fourth book it says 'how do you fight someone you love, if that person is going to kill you?' And then she says 'if hes the one you truely- [key word], love?' The suspens is driving me INSANE!!!
But hopefully I am wrong.
And also in the preface she keeps on dropping hints about not wanting to be a vampire. And I read this thing where Bella says ' "Don't worry, we belong together." As he held me in his WARM arms.' Edward DOES NOT have warm arms.
And I know for sure that they get in a war and either Edward or Jacob dies... Hopefully Jacob, as much as I like him, I hope Edwards wins. :]
Here is the URL where it gives proof about the war and the death:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=145219581
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6-16-2008 @ 7:36PM
sam said...
wow your rite!!! i totally didnt pick up on that... edwards body is ALLWAYS reffered 2 as reli cold, cool, freezing, etc.... jacob is always the warm, hot, roasting guy. i wonder... i dont no how bella would say that tho, she would die if edward left her again. she allmost did last time. and besides, steph already did the leaving plot, i think jacob is gonna crash the wedding party, then volturi show up, bella has to change real quick. idk, just a theory...
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