Nicholas Hoult, Michael Shannon, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Elle Fanning have joined the cast of Jake Paltrow's sci-fi thriller Young Ones.

The film is set in a future where water has become a precious commodity. The story centers on a 14-year-old boystruggling to survive in this violent world.

Jake Paltrow is directing from a script he wrote. Tristan Orpen Lynch, Michael Auret, James Atherton, Marina Fuentes, Peter Garde, Brian O'Shea and Jan Pace are producing.

Michael Auret has this to say about the film.

"Jake's engaging tale of hope and courage in a neo-realistic dystopia will have universal appeal."

Production began last Friday in South Africa's Northern Cape desert.