“The movie will not be an exact duplication of the book. It’s taking a lot of licenses,” Jeff Bridges told EW about his long, long in the works adaptation of Lois Lowry’s 1993 classic “The Giver” (the actor has been trying to get it made for over two decades). Set in a futuristic, dystopian world where society has eradicated memories and emotion, the responsibility of remembering the past is left to a single person, the Receiver. The hero, Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), is selected to be the new Receiver, but while being trained by the titular Giver (Bridges), a previous Receiver, he finds himself struggling with the duties he bears.
“The past is considered to be potentially polluting,” director Phillip Noyce says about the story. “This is a world where complications are eliminated. Jonas himself goes on a journey as he finds out what’s missing. He starts to investigate what’s causing it. And that’s the beauty. That’s what makes the book so popular, it’s an investigation in ways of living.”
So, can this stand out from the YA pack? It’ll certainly be the only one with the caliber of Meryl Streep involved. “The Giver” hits on August 15th. Check out the first images from the film below.
