Odeya Rush Hearts "The Giver"

Odeya Rush ("The Odd Life of Timothy Green") has joined the cast of the Phillip Noyce ("Salt," "The Quiet American") adaptation of "The Giver" says Deadline.

Based on author Lois Lowry's celebrated 1993 children's book, the introspective fantasy take is set in a colorless dystopian society in which all memory of human history has been erased, emotion does not exist and citizens' professions are chosen for them. A 12-year-old boy is assigned to serve as the Receiver of Memories (i.e. the next Giver) and discovers that all is not as it seems.

In the film adaptation Aussie actor Brenton Thwaites ("Maleficent," "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening") is Jonas in the aged up role who is selected as the next Receiver of Memory—responsible for the collective consciousness from before the Sameness. He receives these memories from The Giver Jeff Bridges).

Rush will play Fiona, Jonas' best friend and love interest.

Thwaites beat out fellow rising stars Nick Robinson Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dylan Minnette  Miles Heizer and Dylan Sprayberry.

Meryl Streep will play the society’s antagonistic Chief Elder, who assigns the young their tasks.  "True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgård is in talks to play Jonas' father, while Cameron Monaghan will play Jonas' best friend Asher.

Vadim Perelman ("House of Sand and Fog") wrote the most recent draft of the script

Bridges will also produce with Nikki Silver and Neil Koenigsberg

Production begins this Fall in South Africa.