The Weinstein Company has confirmed that Taylor Swift will make her return to acting in the studio’s film adaptation of the classic novel The Giver. The “22” singer will co-star with Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep.
As previously reported, sources for The New York Post’s Page Six said that Swift had already signed a deal to star in the film. Producer Harvey Weinstein met her at the Toronto International Film Festival and introduced her to the film’s young leading man, Brenton Thwaites. The two became friends and Weinstein offered her a supporting part.
Hours after the report, TWC confirmed the news in a statement, notes Entertainment Weekly. The statement confirmed that Streep, Bridges and Thwaites will be in the film, along with Katie Holmes, Alexander Skarsgard, Cameron Monaghan and Odeye Rush.
In the film, Jonas (Thwaites) is a young man who lives in a dystopian society run by a Chief Elder (Streep). The Giver (Bridges) teaches Jonas to use memories to learn how to the society came to be, notes E! News.
EW notes that Swift will play Rosemary, who is the last teen the Giver trains before he meets Jonas.
The story is based on Lois Lowry’s famous novel and Bridges is among the producers. Phil Noyce (Salt) is directing from a script by Michael Mitnick. Production will begin next month in South Africa and TWC is aiming for a Aug. 15, 2014 release.
image: CBS