Big news for those of us who have been waiting for the YA adaptation trend to hit home with one of the best of our generation – author Lois Lowry has confirmed that “The Giver” is finally going to get the movie it deserves with Jeff Bridges playing the title role. It’s been a long time coming, but conversations about the possibility of a firm greenlight started this fall, and the author is claiming that everything is now in place to make the project a reality.
The Newberry Award-winning book was a must-read back when I was the target of YA authors. It features a painless, peaceful community where everyone has a role to fulfill – one that’s assigned to them when they turn 12. One boy is picked from his class to become The Receiver, a unique position that’s meant to hold all the memories of the society and the world beyond. In the book, it’s a boy named Jonas who is selected to work with The Giver in order to learn the disturbing reality that’s kept from his friends and family in order to make their way of life work. Back when we were doing Print to Projector, I had a few casting ideas of my own for this children’s version of “Brave New World,” but Bridges is certainly inspired.
Although the Studio 360 story is short on details beyond the greenlight and Bridges’ involvement, it’s most likely the case that Phillip Noyce (Salt, Clear and Present Danger) is still set to direct for On-Screen Entertainment. It’s unclear who the major studio backing them for distribution (or production) may be, but we’re on the case and will let you know when we find out.
