Steven
Spielberg-Directed Roald Dahl Adaptation Filming In Vancouver
Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement,
Rebecca Hall, Penelope Wilton and others join cast
As
production gets underway in Vancouver, The Walt Disney Studios announced it
will co-produce and co-finance Steven Spielberg’s “The BFG.” This marks
the three-time Academy Award winner’s first time directing a Disney-branded
movie.
Previously announced
cast include three-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance who will play
the titular “Big Friendly Giant” and newcomer Ruby Barnhill as Sophie.
They are now joined by Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement,
Michael David Adamthwaite, Daniel Bacon, Chris Gibbs, Adam Godley,
Jonathan Holmes, Paul Moniz de Sa and Olafur Olaffson,
all cast as giants. Buckingham Palace has also found its residents with
Penelope Wilton being cast as The Queen and Rebecca Hall as Mary, the Queen’s
maid.
"In more than 40 years of making movies, I
have been on the producing end of a number of films for The Walt Disney
Company, but never as a director," said Steven Spielberg. "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. Together with
them and Disney, there are many reasons why I am so excited about this joint
venture."
“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.”
“This
partnership speaks to the spirit of storytelling and the kinds of movies that
we make here,” said Michael Wright, CEO of DreamWorks Studios. “Over the years,
we have enjoyed a fruitful collaboration, and we couldn’t be more excited
to be working with Disney in this expanded capacity on ‘The BFG.’”
“The
BFG” is the exciting tale of a young London girl and the mysterious
Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country.
Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, “The BFG” (Big
Friendly Giant) was published in 1982 and has
been enchanting readers of all ages ever
since. Dahl’s books, which also include “Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” are
currently available in 58 languages and have sold over 200 million copies
worldwide.
Steven
Spielberg will direct the film adaptation based on a script by Melissa Mathison,
who last teamed with Spielberg on “E.T. The
Extra-Terrestrial.” Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Sam Mercer will
produce while Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden, Michael Siegel and
Kristie Macosko Krieger are on board as executive producers.
Adam Somner is a co-producer. The Disney/Amblin/Reliance
production in association with Walden Media will open in U.S.
theaters on July 1, 2016, the year that coincides with the 100thanniversary of
Roald Dahl’s birth. The Walt Disney Studios is distributing the film in
the U.S. and several international territories while Mister Smith Entertainment
will oversee distribution in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Reliance
will distribute the film in India.
Disney
and Walden Media previously produced “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The
Witch and the Wardrobe,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” and
“Bridge to Terabithia” together.
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