Movies Amandla Stenberg to star in Darkest Minds trilogy adaptation By Nivea Serrao Published on September 26, 2016 08:19PM EDT Photo: Greg Doherty/Getty Images The odds continue to be in Amandla Stenberg’s favor. EW has learned that actress — perhaps best known for playing Rue in the first Hunger Games movie — has been cast as the lead in the big-screen adaptation of Alexandra Bracken’s Darkest Minds trilogy. The dystopian YA series takes place after a mysterious disease kills most of America’s child and teenage population. But when some survivors begin to develop powers they can’t control, they’re considered a threat to society and sent to “rehabilitation” camps. Stenberg will play 16-year-old Ruby Daly, a teenager with telekinetic powers who escapes and joins a group of kids, also on the run from the government. The project will mark Stenberg’s second lead role in a YA adaptation; she also was cast in MGM’s adaptation of the Nicola Yoon novel, Everything, Everything. The actress, who quite recently penned a comic book series, also starred in the 2016 Sundance Film Festival special jury prizewinner As You Are. The film will serve as the live-action directorial debut for Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda 3). News of Stenberg’s casting was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.