The first trailer for 'The Giver' has been released and it looks as if it might just live up to the book's expectations. The movie's been in development for quite some time now but finally on August 15th we'll get to see it on the big screen. Just about enough time then to find out everything you need to know about 'The Giver' before it hits the theatres.

The Giver
Jeff Bridges has been responsible for brining 'The Giver' to the big screen

'The Giver'

Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel, ‘The Giver’ is set in a seemingly utopian society which boasts no disease, war, inequality or even colour. The community has adopted ‘Sameness’ which has removed all emotion and feelings from their lives. Nobody remembers the world before ‘Sameness’, bar one individual, ‘The Receiver of Memories’, an elderly man who holds the memories of the past society. When 12 year old Jonas is chosen to be the next 'Receiver' he begins sessions with his predecessor who begins giving him memories. This leads to confusion over whether or not the community have really chosen the best way of life.

The team

The rights to make ‘The Giver’ into a movie were initially purchased by Jeff Bridges in the 90s, with the actor originally looking at his father Lloyd in the titular role. Instead, the project spent 17 years in development, during which Lloyd passed away, in 1998. By 2012 even writer Lowis Lowry lost faith in the project ever making it to the big screen, saying ‘every now and then, some big studio gets involved, and some major player gets involved. And then time passes, and it all collapses again’. Then last year things started to finally be getting off the ground for the movie. Bridges decided to take on the titular role himself and the Weinstein company got on board. Phillip Noyce then signed to direct. The Australian director’s last outing was Angelina Jolie spy thriller ‘Salt’ in 2010, but he currently serves as an executive producer on ABC thriller ‘Revenge’. Bridges will be producing, while the screenplay has been adapted by the virtually unknown writer Michael Mitnick.

The Giver Katie HolmesKatie Holmes [L] in 'The Giver'

The Cast

Along with having Jeff Bridges in the lead role ‘The Giver’ boasts a pretty stellar cast list. Meryl Streep is playing the Chief Elder, looking more scary than she even did in the ‘Devil Wears Prada’. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites appears in his first major big screen role as Bridges’s protege. He’s best known back home for appearing in soap opera ‘Home and Away’. His mother will be played by Katie Homes, whilst his love interest is fellow rising star Odeya Rush. Watch out also for singer Taylor Swift who continues to forge an acting career, this time playing ‘The Giver’s’ daughter.

Watch The Giver trailer:

The Plot

The movie won't be steering too far away from the novel, with the major difference being that the film is in colour, so the idea of a colourless society is out. Also the character of Jonas has had an age increase, Brenton Thwaites is 24, but his character’s age has only been moved up to 16. Then there’s Meryl Streep’s character, who has had her role much increased for the movie, making her the main antagonist. In the book she really doesn’t appear too often.

Next page: so what can we expect from The Giver?