The Bus

Steven Spielberg will direct an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel “The BFG.”

The story follows a little girl who leads a big, friendly giant and the Queen of England on a journey to stop the fiercer man-eating giants from gobbling children.

DreamWorks acquired rights in 2010, and Melissa Mathison, who last teamed with Spielberg on “E.T.,” will pen the script. Frank Marshall will produce, with Michael Siegel and John Madden on board as executive producers. Madden was originally set to direct “The BFG” but is instead focusing on the sequel to “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”

Spielberg will begin production in first quarter of 2015, with a planned 2016 release.

“’The BFG’ has enchanted families and their children for more than three decades. We are honored that the Roald Dahl estate has entrusted us with this classic story,” said Spielberg in a statement.

However, the busy helmer is likely to first direct the untitled Tom Hanks thriller for DreamWorks in September, with Tom Hanks starring in the true story of an American attorney enlisted by the CIA during the Cold War.

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/st...fg-1201164423/

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Assuming this is live action.

Solid Snake

The Big Fucking Gun is what I thought reading the title.

GoldenJCJ

I wonder. Spielberg did give us Tintin a couple years ago. I can see him going back to that CGI well again for this one.

TomOpus

For those interested, there was an animated film made in 1989 and you can see it on YouTube.

UAIOE

I was wondering why Spielberg would do a "Doom" related movie.

Supermallet

There's going to be a sequel to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel??

Norm de Plume

This can't be good. Every one of Dahl's books is a veritable classic of children's lit. Any adaptation won't live up to one's memory of the book.

rexinnih

Remember this is Spielberg. That would be changed to "BFW" (Big F'in Walkie Talkie)

story

I didn't read a whole lot of Dahl growing up so I've never heard of this one. I like the idea of Spielberg and Mathison together again, though.

Rob V

BOOM!

Crocker Jarmen

Except for "The BFG".

In terms of character, scenes and story, it's a very thin book. Not one of Dahl's best. In order to make this a movie, they'll pretty much be creating the re-story from the ground up.

Really all the book has is a lot of silly fart humor. It's no James or Mr. Fox or even Matilda.

Frankly, I'd rather see them adapt The Vicar of Dibbley (or whatever the backwards speaking Dahl book was called).

Norm de Plume

It is quite thin, but I remember liking it a lot. Dahl's writing, more than any author I read as a child, really stirs a youngster's (especially a boy's, I would think) imagination. I haven't read all of his work, but of those I did, the only one I didn't find enrapturing was Danny, the Champion of the World.

Crocker Jarmen

Even as a grown-up, a lot of his "children's" books hold my attention.

I have a fantasy of John Waters making an adaptation of THE TWITS. That's something I'd love to see.

hanshotfirst1138

As much as I love Spielberg, I don't know if he has quite the twisted sensibility necessary for a Dahl adaptation. I'd like to go to someone really weird with a dark edge like del Toro or Terry Gilliam.

bluetoast

Funny, I was just thinking of that book today in relation to this thread. The Twits were pretty fucked up to one another, it was great. That reminds me there are more Roald Dahl books I still need to read, including The BFG.

RocShemp

Ditto. Never heard of this book.

Norm de Plume

I should re-read the ones I have from 30 years ago and maybe obtain some of the ones I have not had the pleasure of reading. The Twits is one of my favs (diagram of Mr. Twit's beard). I also love the one with the kid who invents a potion that makes those who drink it grow to great heights. Tallness is something little boys find fascinating.
I just can't see a film adaptation of Dahl's work succeeding all that well, except maybe in animated form. Correction: The Witches was very good, surprisingly. And The Night Digger, a non-children's horror film scripted by Dahl is excellent.

Crocker Jarmen

The Witches was really cool. I think Dahl's stories need a British production to get the tone right.

Because as a child, what really made his books compelling was how they seemed just a little bit nasty.

Norm de Plume

You're right. Maybe it's the British sensibility And his stories were often more than just a little nasty. Think of the Twits' well-deserved but horrific (to a child) demise.

Drexl

I wonder if they actually would consider changing the title due to the connection to Doom. Obviously several of us here couldn't help but think of it when we saw the title (myself included).

I don't think it's THAT ingrained in the culture, like the Wisconsin Tourism Federation rearranging its name to avoid being abbreviated as WTF, but they might at least spell it out as "The Big Friendly Giant."

Crocker Jarmen

I'm not familiar with DOOM, but I have no doubt Dahl knew exactly what he was doing when he titled the book. It would be a shame for them to change his little joke.

dex14

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VG5MtenlP-A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3691740/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Solid Snake

Not really intrigued by this one. Could be a hard sell depending on how they market it in the overall.

Apparently the BFG is played by an actor. Looks like it's a real guy though. Hrmm.

Norm de Plume

Trailer isn't half bad, but almost anything by Spielberg is bombastic.

OldBoy

looked ok enough. i'll give SS a chance with almost anything...