The Weinstein Company has released the first trailer for The Giver, Philip Noyce‘s adaptation of the Lois Lowry novel of the same name. Though it may be just another dystopian YA novel, it touts a powerful cast that consists of Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep, and introduces new stars like Brenton Thwaites. While film adaptations of dystopian YA novels have been popping up in recent years, none of them would be even possible if The Giver laid down the foundation, because the novel was one of the first to explore that realm, and give young readers a reason to dive into a good book.
Hit the jump to see the trailer, and what looks like a viral campaign.
First the trailer. We are introduced to a world that has been ravaged by wars, poverty, famine, and other disasters, but a collective force brought the world together to create a utopia. But when young Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is assigned to be the community’s keeper of memories, he discovers that this utopia comes at a staggering cost.
The trailer ends by showing a website Receive Your Destiny. If you head over there you will meet The Giver (Jeff Bridges) who explains what it means to be a “receiver.” Here is the transcription:
To represent their community, a receiver must possess four qualities: intelligence, integrity, courage, and above all a capacity to see beyond. Do you believe you possess these four attributes?
After the video ends, the website asks that you join them on April 28 to receive your destiny. It doesn’t look like there will be any viral activity for the film will be happening during WonderCon seeing as its being held on the weekend of April 18. But who knows what will happen. We’ll be sure to keep you posted.
The Giver opens on August 15.
The haunting story of THE GIVER centers on Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. The film is based on Lois Lowry’s beloved young adult novel of the same name, which was the winner the 1994 Newbury Medal and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.