Toni Collette has joined Levi Miller, Aaron McGrath and Angourie Rice on the cast of Rachel Perkins' Australian feature film Jasper Jones.
Jasper Jones is the film adaptation of the award winning coming of age mystery novel by Craig Silvey.
Collette will play the role of Ruth Bucktin, mother to Charlie Bucktin (Miller).
The film is set over one eventful summer in 1965 when Charlie, lured by adventure and mystery, experiences the trials of teenage love and discovers what it means to be truly courageous.
Aaaron McGrath has been cast as the titular character Jasper Jones and Rice as the intelligent and mysterious Eliza Wishart, who is also the object of Charlie’s affections.
Producer, Vincent Sheehan said Toni Collette was, quite simply, one of the greatest actors of her generation.
"The depth and insight she will bring to the unique role of Ruth Bucktin and having her work alongside the exciting emerging talent in our cast, will be invaluable in bringing Craig Silvey’s acclaimed novel to life.”
Collette had her breakthrough role as the lead in the now classic Muriel’s Wedding.
She then went on to a string of successful international roles before being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Sixth Sense.
Since then she has starred in in films such as the Academy Award nominated Little Miss Sunshine, Hitchcock, Enough Said and as the lead in the TV series United States of Tara.
Collette can next be seen opposite Drew Barrymore in the upcoming Miss You Already and is also one of the voices in Blinky Bill The Movie, currently in cinemas.
The best-selling novel Jasper Jones was published in 2009 and has made waves around the globe.
It has won multiple awards, including the Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2010.
It will be directed by Rachel Perkins (Bran Nue Dae, Radiance, One Night the Moon).
The film is produced by Bunya Productions David Jowsey (Mystery Road, Mad Bastards) and Porchlight Films Vincent Sheehan (The Hunter, Animal Kingdom). Production Designer is Herbert Pinter (Mao’s Last Dancer), Margot Wilson (Bran Nue Dae) is Costume Designer and Mark Wareham (Felony) will be Director of Photography.
The novel was adapted for the screen by Shaun Grant (Snowtown, Berlin Syndrome) and Craig Silvey.
Principal photography is set to commence in October in the south west of Western Australia.
International sales will be managed by Mongrel International, and Madman Entertainment will release the film in Australia.