“Hunger Games” alum Amandla Stenberg will star in the film adaptation of “The Hate U Give,” an upcoming YA novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.
HarperCollins’ Balzer & Bray just won the publishing rights to the timely book, written by first-time novelist Angela Thomas. Shortly thereafter, a bidding war kicked off for the film rights. Fox 2000, Temple Hill and State Street came out victorious. Audrey Wells (“Shall We Dance”) will pen the script.
The book tells the story of 16-year-old Starr, a girl who grew up in poverty, but is now enrolled in a suburban prep school. When a police officer shoots her unarmed best friend, Starr must find her voice and speak her truth as her worlds collide.
This seems like a great fit for budding activist Stenberg, who has previously used social media to tackle cultural appropriation and sexism. The actress also co-wrote a series for Stranger Comics about a hybrid elf-human warrior, “Niobe: She Is Life.” “I think it’s the first comic book that has a black female writer and a black female illustrator and a black female lead, so it’s really exciting,” said the teen.
Aside from her big break in “The Hunger Games” franchise, Stenberg’s credits include NBC’s “Mr. Robinson” and Fox’s “Sleepy Hollow.” She voiced a character in “Rio 2.”
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
