Steven Spielberg to Direct Film Version of Roald Dahl's The BFG

Posted on April 27, 2014

Steven Spielberg will direct Steven Spielberg is attached to direct a live action film of Roald Dahl's children's book The BFG for DreamWorks. The book was published in 1982 and was illustrated by Quentin Blake.

The book tells the story of a Big Friendly Giant who helps a young girl named Sophie (named after the author's granddaughter Sophie Dahl) fight off bad giants who eat people. The fantastical story is set in England and involved the Queen and other heads of state helping to stop the evil giants from eating any more people. Spielberg's last directorial outing was 2013's Lincoln. The script has already been written by E.T. scribe Melissa Mathison.

Spielberg is planning a release date of 2016 for the film with a production start date in 2015. He may direct a cold war thriller with Tom Hanks before the start of production on The BFG, but he seems committed to the children's film. No casting or firm start date has been announced, but with Spielberg on board things should get moving soon.

Roald Dah The BFG cover, illustrated by Quentin Blake

Image: Puffin