Walden Gives Giver to Neumeier
July 10, 2003By IAN MOHR
The Hollywood Reporter
NEW YORK - Cary Granat's indie film unit Walden Media has tapped writer Ed Neumeier to pen the feature adaptation of author Lois Lowry's science fiction novel "The Giver."
The project is being produced in a partnership among Walden, Jeff Bridges' AsIs Prods. and RCN Entertainment, with Bridges, Neil Koenigsberg, Orly Wiseman and Nicole Silver producing. Sources said Bridges is likely to star.
The Newbery Award-winning book follows Jonas, a 12-year-old boy living in an idyllic future where all memory of human history has been erased and there is no crime, poverty or sickness - only joy. However, Jonas' life is thrown into turmoil when he learns some chilling truths about the world in which he lives, and his knowledge sparks rebellion.
Said Walden CEO and co-founder Granat: "This is the rare science fiction story where an exciting vision of the future is equally matched by great characters and passionate storytelling. Ed has proven himself to be a prolific science fiction screenwriter, and his ability to translate the futuristic world to the big screen made him an obvious choice for this project."
Repped by UTA, Anonymous Content and Linda Lichter of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler and Goodman, Neumeier's credits include "RoboCop" and "Starship Troopers."
Walden's James Cameron-directed "Ghosts of the Abyss" and big-screen adaptation of the novel "Holes" both recently rolled out via the Walt Disney Co.
