Taylor Swift

Swift & Streep, sci-fi sirens

Contributed by
Sep 27, 2013

Pop diva Taylor Swift is joining Meryl Streep in the cast of an upcoming sci-fi movie. Yes, you read that correctly.

The movie is called The Giver and it's based on the popular 1993 young adult science fiction novel by Lois Lowry.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Swift has officially signed to a considerably strong cast that includes the legendary Academy Award winner Streep, her fellow Oscar recipient Jeff Bridges (Tron Legacy), Katie Holmes (Batman Begins) and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood).

That's a formidable roster to throw Swift into, since her previous acting credits only consist of the rom-com Valentine's Day, the animated The Lorax (voice only) and a couple of TV appearances.

The story takes place in a dystopian society where almost all emotions have been eradicated and everyone is assigned certain jobs or tasks, based on their skills and gifts, for the rest of their lives. The Community, as it's called, keeps true feelings -- and the populace -- in check through the use of drugs. 

As a result, all memories of the past have been eradicated, with one person -- in this case, a young boy named Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) -- deemed the Receiver of Memories, who must act as an isolated receptacle for all evidence of the past. When he is brought under the tutelate of the former Receiver, now called the Giver (Bridges), Jonas begins to learn that the Community's ways may be need to be changed.

Streep will play the iron-fisted leader of the Community, while Holmes will play Jonas' mother. It's not clear yet what role Swift will play. The movie, directed by Phillip Noyce (Salt), starts shooting next month and will come out August 15, 2014.

Does this sound like good casting to you, or does Swift's involvement bring down the project's credibility just a bit?

(via The Playlist)

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