Well, here’s a pair of casting choices I never saw coming!
Taylor Swift and Katie Holmes have signed on for roles in Phillip Noyce’s adaptation of The Giver, the award-winning bestseller written by Lois Lowry. The two ladies will be joining a particularly star-studded cast, including Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Cameron Monaghan, Odeya Rush, and Jeff Bridges in the title role. Brenton Thwaites will be playing Jonas, the young protagonist of the story.
The Giver is set in a seemingly utopian future where there is no pain, emotion, history, or even color itself. Jonas is a young boy who has been selected to be the next Receiver of Memories, the one man in their society who bears the memories and history of the past generations, and is forced to feel and remember all the pain that mankind has had to endure.
Bridges plays the original Receiver of Memories, who refers to himself as The Giver. Meryl Streep plays the society’s Chief Elder, and Skarsgard and Holmes will play Jonas’ parents. Swift will be playing a mysterious young girl known as Rosemary.
Apparently, Jeff Bridges has been trying to get the film made for over a decade, first intending to use it as a starring vehicle for his father. After all this time, it seems that the film will begin production next month in Cape Town, South Africa. The Weinstein Company will be aiming for a release date of August 15, 2014.
Like I said, I never these casting choices coming, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t good choices. I’ve been critical of Katie Holmes’ limited range in the past, but for this story and her role, I think it would work out pretty well. Now as far as Taylor Swift goes, I’m sure that fans of the novel won’t be exactly thrilled at her casting, but I do think she fits the part. She could be the least experienced actor on the cast, but the character of Rosemary doesn’t seem like it would be a stretch for her to play.
I’ve held the story of The Giver pretty close to my heart ever since reading it back in sixth grade, and I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with how the film’s shaping up thus far. The cast seems ideal for their roles, and I’ve got high hopes that they’ll help bring us an excellent film.
What do you think about the idea of Swift and Homes joining The Giver? Do you think they’re good decisions, or would you have rather seen someone else in the roles?
Source: /Film
