The BFG

The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is an upcoming 2016 adventure fantasy film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison, based on the 1982 children's book of the same name by Roald Dahl. The film stars Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill and Bill Hader. Principal photography on the film began on March 23, 2015. The film will be co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, and Walden Media, and is scheduled to be released by on July 22, 2016. It is also the very first Disney movie to have another major studio co-producing with them.

Plot
The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like the Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and the Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie (Ruby Barnhill), a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows. But Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome. Says Spielberg, “It’s a story about friendship, it’s a story about loyalty and protecting your friends and it’s a story that shows that even a little girl can help a big giant solve his biggest problems.” Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see the Queen of the United Kingdom (Penelope Wilton) and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary (Rebecca Hall), that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

Cast

 * Mark Rylance as The BFG
 * Ruby Barnhill as Sophie
 * Bill Hader as The Bloodbottler
 * Penelope Wilton as The Queen of the United Kingdom
 * Rebecca Hall as Mary
 * Jemaine Clement
 * Michael David Adamthwaite
 * Daniel Bacon
 * Chris Gibbs
 * Adam Godley
 * Jonathan Holmes
 * Paul Moniz de Sa
 * Ólafur Ólafsson

Development
In September 2011, DreamWorks announced that they had picked up the film rights to the book; Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are slated to produce, and screenwriter Melissa Mathison will adapt the story. In April 2014, it was announced that Steven Spielberg will direct the film, shooting in 2015 with plans for a 2016 release. Spielberg stated, "The BFG has enchanted families and their children for more than three decades. We are honoured that the Roald Dahl estate has entrusted us with this classic story." The film will be released on July 1, 2016, and distributed worldwide by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures under its Touchstone Pictures banner, except for territories in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, where the film's distribution rights will be sold by Mister Smith Entertainment to independent distributors. DreamWorks' financial partner, Reliance Entertainment will release the film in India. Entertainment One will release the film on July 22, 2016 in the UK. It was announced at the end of October 2014 that three-time Tony Award-winning actor Mark Rylance will star in the title role. Spielberg was quoted as saying of him that "Mark Rylance is a transformational actor. I am excited and thrilled that Mark will be making this journey with us to Giant Country. Everything about his career so far is about making the courageous choice and I’m honoured he has chosen The BFG as his next big screen performance." On March 5, 2015, according to Deadline, it was announced that Walden Media has joined to co-finance and co-produce the movie. Sam Mercer would also be producing the film. In April 2015, The Walt Disney Studios—which was already under agreement to distribute the film through its Touchstone Pictures banner—joined the production as a co-producer and co-financer, and switched the film as a Walt Disney Pictures release instead. Consequently, The BFG is the first Disney-branded film directed by Spielberg; though he has previously produced several films for the studio. The film also marks the first Walt Disney Pictures production since Dragonslayer, to be co-produced by another major studio.

Casting
On October 27, 2014, Mark Rylance was cast in the title role of the film. In the mid-November 2014, it was revealed that a ten year-old student of Crackley Hall School, Ruby Riley had auditioned for the film where she had to learn six pages of dialogue in preparation for a possible role as orphaned Sophie. After a lengthy search on the role Sophie, on December 16, director cast 10-year-old British actress Ruby Barnhill for the role, on which Barnhill said, "I feel incredibly lucky and I'm so happy." Spielberg stated that they "have discovered a wonderful Sophie in Ruby Barnhill." Bill Hader was set to star in the film for an unspecified role on March 27, 2015. On April 13, 2015, more cast was announced, which included Penelope Wilton, Rebecca Hall, Jemaine Clement, Michael David Adamthwaite, Daniel Bacon, Chris Gibbs, Adam Godley, Jonathan Holmes, Paul Moniz de Sa, and Ólafur Ólafsson.

Trivia

 * The BFG will be the first Disney film to be co-financed and co-produced with Walden Media in 8 years, since The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
 * This will be Disney's second film adaptation to be based on a Roald Dahl book in 20 years, the first being James and the Giant Peach released in 1996.
 * This will also be Disney's first film to be co-produced by Amblin Entertainment since A Far Off Place, which was released in 1993.
 * The BFG will be the first Disney film to be directed by Steven Spielberg.