Steven Spielberg May Direct ‘The BFG,’ Based On Roald Dahl Book [Updated]
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Which film will the director ofLincolndo next? There are quite a few options, and now yet another has cropped up. Thanks to a new attachment,Steven Spielbergmay directThe BFG, an adaptation of theRoald Dahlbook.
Sorry,Doomfans, that title doesn’t refer to a rifle. It’s an acronym for “Big Friendly Giant.” The 1982 story, as Angie once explained, follows “a girl named Sophie, who encounters and befriends the Big Friendly Giant. Though his initial appearance is intimidating, the BFG turns out to be a softhearted soul who’s considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers, he refuses to eat boys and girls.”
Dreamworkspicked up rights to the bookin 2011, and setMelissa Mathisonto script an adaptation. She wrote a Spielberg film you’re probably familiar with:E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. Now there’s a chance they’ll reunite if Spielberg directsThe BFG.
THRreports that Matheson is still attached to the film as Spielberg considers the possibility of directing. He hasn’t signed yet. With all his new attachments over the past couple weeks, however, it seems like he’s getting ready to make a decision. That, or he’s pressuring someone to commit financing to one of the films in particular.
Other possible Spielberg projects includethe long-brewing sci-fiRobopocalypse;Montezuma, about Spanish conquistadorHernan Cortesand the script’s namesake Aztec ruler; as well as new possibilitiesThe Kidnapping of EdgardoMortara, based on the David Kertzernovel,and an untitled Cold War project that has Tom Hanksattached to star.
Update:Trade talk says the most likely next Spielberg project is the as-yet untitled Cold War project with Tom Hanks.Read more about that here.
Meanwhile, here’s theAmazon.comsynopsis forThe BFG:
Evidently not even Roald Dahl could resist the acronym craze of the early eighties. BFG? Bellowing ferret-faced golfer? Backstabbing fairy godmother? Oh, oh … Big Friendly Giant! This BFG doesn’t seem all that F at first as he creeps down a London street, snatches little Sophie out of her bed, and bounds away with her to giant land. And he’s not really all that B when compared with his evil, carnivorous brethren, who bully him for being such an oddball runt. After all, he eats only disgusting snozzcumbers, and while the other Gs are snacking on little boys and girls, he’s blowing happy dreams in through their windows. What kind of way is that for a G to behave?
The BFG is one of Dahl’s most lovable character creations. Whether galloping off with Sophie nestled into the soft skin of his ear to capture dreams as though they were exotic butterflies; speaking his delightful, jumbled, squib-fangled patois; or whizzpopping for the Queen, he leaves an indelible impression of bigheartedness.
