Entertainment One have announced a July 22, 2016 UK / IRELAND release date for a new feature film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s universally loved classic THE BFG (the Big Friendly Giant), directed by Steven Spielberg.
First published in 1982, The BFG, one of Roald Dahl’s most iconic books, was recently voted amongst the top 10 favourite children’s books of the past 150 years. 2016 will also mark the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth.
Steven Spielberg will direct the new adaptation with Melissa Mathison, who last worked with Spielberg onvET, writing the script. Frank Marshall and Spielberg will produce the film and Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden and Michael Siegel are on board as executive producers.
The BFG tells the tale of a young girl, the Queen of England and a benevolent giant known as the BFG, who set out on an adventure to capture the evil, man-eating giants who have been invading the human world.
“It is fitting that the UK is the first international country to announce the date of The BFG, a story that sprang from the imagination of this proud son from Wales,” said Steven Spielberg. “We at DreamWorks Studios hope our film will add to Roald Dahl’s prolific legacy of entertainment.”
Luke Kelly, Roald Dahl’s grandson and MD of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, says: “We are so thrilled and excited at this collaboration between two storytelling giants - Roald Dahl and Steven Spielberg. The fact that Steven is bringing one of my grandfather’s best-loved stories and characters to the big screen in the middle of the year in which we will celebrate Roald Dahl’s Centenary is even more fantastic."
Roald Dahl has sold 200million books worldwide, 37million of these in the UK. The film adaptations of his books have grossed over £65million at the UK box office.
The US release date byt the way, is July 1st.
