You fell in love with her as Rue in the 2012 film The Hunger Games. Since then, the 17-year-old actress has come into her own, as an outspoken activist and trendsetter. All things that have likely contributed to landing her latest role.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stenberg has nabbed a lead role in an upcoming film titled The Hate You Give. The film, which is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, is based on a novel by Angela Thomas. In the flick, Stenberg is set to play Starr, a 16-year-old girl who grew up in poverty and now attends a suburban prep school. Starr witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend and must share her testimony in court, which comes with serious challenges and consequences.
Stenberg shared the exciting news via Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDUlumvm1Zt/?taken-by=amandlastenberg
“I am so excited to announce that I will be starring in The Hate U Give, a film based on the novel by Angela Thomas inspired by Black Lives Matter,” she wrote via Instagram.
Stenberg also included a quote from The Hollywood Reporter in her post, “Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg will star and George Tillman Jr. will direct the film adaptation from a script by Audrey Wells. Thomas’ story follows a 16-year-old girl named Starr who grew up in a poverty-stricken slum, but now attends a suburban prep school. After she witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend, she’s torn between her two very different worlds as she tries to speak her truth.”
For those unfamiliar with the written work, The Hate You Give is an adaptation of Thomas’ debut novel of the same title. She began working on the piece whose title is based on Tupac Shakur’s tattoo, “T.H.U.G.” in 2011 while studying at Belhaven University. Thomas was inspired to write the book following the police killing of 22-year-old Oscar Grant in Oakland, California, in 2009.
Taking into consideration Stenberg’s personal stand on race and sexism in Hollywood, we can’t wait to see what she brings to the role. Will you be watching? Sound off in the comment section below.
