Spielberg + Disney = The BFG

Disney has announced that they will be joining Steven Spielberg as he directs a live action film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s popular children’s novel The BFG. 

This film marks the first time Spielberg will take on a directing role for a Disney film. He will be working with a script written by Melissa Mathison alongside Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy as producer and executive producer, among others. “It is a special joy to be in the director’s chair as we start ‘The BFG,’ alongside my long-time friends and film collaborators Kathy Kennedy, who introduced me to this project, Frank Marshall and Melissa Mathison,” said Spielberg. “Together with them and Disney, there are many reasons why I am so excited about this joint venture.”

The film will star Mark Rylance as the BFG and Ruby Barnhill as Sophie. Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement, Michael David Adamthwaite, Daniel Bacon, Chris Gibbs, Adam Godley, Jonathan Holmes, Paul Moniz de Sa and Olafur Olaffson are also all currently cast as giants. Penelope Wilton joins the cast as the Queen will be played with Rebecca Hall playing Mary, the Queen’s maid.

“With Steven Spielberg at the helm, ‘The BFG’ will undoubtedly capture the minds of children and adults alike – as Roald Dahl’s original stories and many of Steven’s own films have done for decades,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “The team at Disney has tremendous respect for the filmmakers, and we’re thrilled to join with them to make what will be a spectacular picture.”

The BFG follows the adventures of a young girl named Sophie and a Big Friendly Giant. The two go on fantastic adventures, leading them to even speak with the Queen of England herself! Roald’s Dahl’s popular novel has been entertaining children since its publication in 1982. Over the course of his life, Roald Dahl has written many works which continue to fascinate readers up to this day.

This film will definitely take audiences back to the charming fantasy of childhood stories. With Steven Spielberg heading the project, The BFG promises to be a wonderful, entertaining film for people of all ages.

The movie is planned to be released on July 6th, 2016, in correlation with the Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday.