In an earlier post SM said that she could see Joshua Jackson as Jared - I think that is a great choice!

Natalie Portman is too dainty for Melanie. She is described as tall and athletic and used to hard labor. Hard to find in Hollywood, but she would need to have more meat on her bones and be tougher.

I do know what you mean, I was just having such a hard time imagining an actress that could pull off really tough and quite delicate, and Natalie just came to mind. I like the idea of Evangaline Lily too, the body and toughness from Lost is totally Melanie, but I've not really seen her act in anything else, so I can't think whether she would work for Wanderer. I know SM mentioned Hilary Swank, but I just can't see her for either girls at all.

Mamabookworm: I have been thinking about how to portray it on screen and I remembered this movie I saw in the 70's, no idea what it was, but in it the person had split personality disorder kind of thing, and the subjugated personality, when it was talking, you would see the actor like he was in a dark sort of prison cell. So, when Melanie is talking, it would cut to the scene of Melanie still in her clothes, looking as she remembered herself to look, but locked away in a cell, it works symbolically I think, and then you get to have both characters throughout the movie. Does that make sense? I wish I could remember the movie that made me think of it!

I didn't actually have any actor in mind when I wrote The Host, mostly because I think it would actually be impossible to film. The actress who played Wanderer/Melanie would have to be like gollum from TLOTR (remember that scene where he's talking to himself? "We kills the master!" "No, we loves the master!"). I just don't see how they could make it work with all the talking that goes on inside those girls' head.

But then I've started getting some nibbles recently, so I've begun the "useless casting in my head" process, just in case.

Unlike Twilight, where I think it's crucial that the actors be nobodies, I think The Host would benefit from some really bigtime names.

Wanderer/Melanie is easily the hardest. She'd have to be Oscar material, and she'd have to be able to go from rough-tough-and-ruthless to gentle-to-the-point-of-wussiness at the drop of a hat. She'd also somehow have to convey a million conversations inside of her head. I haven't found anyone I love yet, but my preliminary choice is Hillary Swank. I know she can handle the tough part, at least, and she's proven herself as a great actress.

Jared could go so many ways! On the one hand, I would love to see Matt Damon take this on. SWOON. He would completely nail this role. Jared has to be a pretty hardened person, capable of anything. He's lost everything--his family, the entire world, and then, just before the book begins, the love of his life. Yet in Melanie's memories, you get to see the laughing, resourceful Jared who is almost magic he's so good at survival. Joshua Jackson would be another nice choice for that dual nature. He's played both romantic sweethearts and psychopaths. Henry Cavill is just so beautiful that he would be fun to look at no matter how his acting is. Sigh. Somehow, I don't really see Steven in the role--maybe because Jared is kind of golden--gold highlights in his hair, golden tan, gold flecks in his hazel eyes... Ummmm....

Other people you don't know...

Jeb: Robert Redford (why not ask for the moon, right?) But the old RR, with wrinkles and white hair. And he has to grow a beard.

Kyle and Ian O'Shea: Ben and Casey Affleck. Mostly because it would be hilarious to have them playing across from Matt Damon. They don't look anything like the right description though. The brothers are supposed to be black Irish (huge soccer hooligan types, fair, black hair and blue eyes, yummy).

Doc: Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), though this is another place where I could give Joshua Jackson a job.

Sharon: Bryce Howard

That's all I've got so far. And you're the only ones who know it!