Jake Abel May Lead Stephenie Meyer's Post-'Twilight' Adaptation 'The Host,' and More in the Morning Grind

Who is Jake Abel? You might know him from 'Percy Jackson,' 'I Am Number Four' and that episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' that he guested on, but if Deadline is correct, you'll soon know him as the next RPattz or Tay-tay Lauts. (New Taylor Lautner nickname: COINED!) Abel is apparently the frontrunner to co-star as Ian in 'The Host,' 'Twilight' author Stephenie Meyer's follow-up to the mega YA series. Andrew Niccol ('In Time') will write and direct the feature film version, which follows a young woman (Saoirse Ronan) who gets inhabited by an alien (also Ronan) and must choose between her boyfriend Jared (a role that Liam Hemsworth, among others, was reading for) and the duplicitous Ian (the role Abel would play). Deadline says negotiations with Abel could start shortly, FWIW. [Deadline]

Awesomely bad title alert: MGM has purchased the rights to 'Killer Pizza,' a novel about a 14-year-old boy who goes to work at a pizza shop that's actually a front for monster hunters. Of course. Greg Taylor wrote the book, which sounds like 'Monster Squad' plus 'Loverboy,' which just about makes it the best movie ever. [Deadline]

'Brothers and Sisters' star Luke Grimes has been added to the cast of 'Taken 2' as the boyfriend of Maggie Grace's character. In a twist, the new film will find original star Liam Neeson being taken hostage, with his daughter and her boyfriend forced to attempt rescue. Here's guessing Neeson still kills everyone. [Variety]

Jerry Ferrara (Turtle from 'Entourage'!) has joined the cast of '7500,' a cheapie airplane thriller with a mostly B-and-C-list cast. [Deadline]

How does Jean-Claude Van Damme feel about his time on the set of 'The Expendables 2'? It's unclear, but there is this photo... [Movieline]

Dwight Arrington Myers, who you know better as Heavy D, died on Tuesday at the age of 44. Myers had a small cameo appearance in the recently released 'Tower Heist' as a courthouse guard. He also appeared in the films 'Step Up,' 'Life' and 'The Cider House Rules.' [TMZ]

[Photo: Getty]

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