Martin Sheen and Rooney Mara, both past Golden Globe nominees, have been cast to star in a film adaptation of Andy Mulligan’s children’s novel “Trash.”

The novel, published in 2010, tells the story of three young boys living in a dumpsite on the outskirts of an impoverished town in an unnamed third-world country. While searching through the rubbish, the boys find a leather bag filled with mysterious items and are lead into a thrilling chase from the authorities. 

Mara, who starred in the 2011 Academy and Grammy award winning film, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” will play Olivia, an NGO worker. Sheen, who recently starred in “The Amazing Spider-Man” is set to play Father Juilliard.

Rickson Tevez, Eduardo Luis and Gabriel Weinstein will make their film debuts playing the three young boys.

Tony Award-winning director, Stephen Daldry, who worked on “Billy Elliot,” will direct the movie with the help of BAFTA winning writer Richard Curtis.

The novel caused controversy when it was released in 2010 due to its graphic depiction of poverty and crime. The Guardian reports that BBC discarded the novel from its book awards in 2010 due to “scenes of violence and swearing,” which were deemed unsuitable for the book’s supposed audience of under-12s.

Mara is currently finishing filming an unnamed movie project, while Sheen just wrapped up filming of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.”
 
Filming is set to begin next month in Rio de Janeiro and is expected to be released in May 2014 before the World Cup begins.