Production Begins on Steven Spielberg's 'The BFG'

Walt Disney Studios on Monday announced that it will be co-producing and co-financing Steven Spielberg's The BFG with Walden Media according to Variety. Now described as a Disney/Amblin/Reliance production, in association with Walden Media, the project is now in pre-production and is set to begin filming in Vancouver.

Adapted for the big-screen be Melissa Mathison, best known for writing the script for Spielberg's classic film E.T., from the children's book by Roald Dahl of the same name, The BFG follows the story of the little orphan girl Sophie and her giant friend who has made it his mission to collect good dreams and gift them to children while destroying nightmares and keeping his nasty fellow giants from eating "human beans."

 The BFG stars Mark Rylance as the titular character and Ruby Barnhill as the little orphan girl Sophie. Playing the nasty giants are Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Michael David Adamthwaite, Daniel Bacon, Adam Godley, Chris Gibbs, Jonathan Holmes, and Paul Moniz de Sa. Penelope Wilton will portray The Queen of England while Rebecca Hall is cast as Mary, the Queen's maid.

In announcing the start of the project, Spielberg in his press statement said: "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. 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."

Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Sam Mercer will produce, while Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden, Michael Siegel and Kristie Macosko Krieger will executive produce, and Adam Somner will co-produce in the project.

The BFG is scheduled for release to theaters on July 1, 2016, the coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dahl's birth.