Following the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Walt Disney Pictures has released the new trailer for director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, The BFG. You can view the new BFG trailer and poster below!
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 Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and 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, 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 (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.
Directed by three-time Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg (Bridge of Spies, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) from a screenplay by Melissa Mathison (E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, The Black Stallion) based on the best-selling novel by Roald Dahl, The BFG stars three-time Tony Award and two-time Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, newcomer Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall and Bill Hader. The film is produced by Spielberg, Frank Marshall (Jurassic World, The Bourne Ultimatum) and Sam Mercer (Snow White and the Huntsman, The Sixth Sense) with Kathleen Kennedy (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lincoln), John Madden (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Shakespeare in Love), Kristie Macosko Krieger (Bridge of Spies, Lincoln), Michael Siegel (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Rise of the Guardians), Frank Smith and Naia Cucukov serving as executive producers.
Roald Dahl’s novel was first published in 1982 and has been enchanting readers of all ages ever since. Dahl’s books, which also include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Matilda,” are currently available in 58 languages and have sold over 200 million copies worldwide. Originally created as a bedtime story, “The BFG” was Dahl’s own favorite of all his stories.
The BFG opens in U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016. 2016 is the year that marks the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth.
*Text from Coming Soon
How do you think this looks? Because right now, after viewing this trailer, my expectations are sky high. Dahl had an almost eerie understanding of what children love to read, he was on their wavelength 100%, and his novels marked my childhood. I can remember graduating to his adult fiction in high school, and thinking it was so shallow compared to the stuff he wrote for kids. Clever, yes, but nothing worth revisiting. I think his kids’ books are SO honest that filmmakers have been uncomfortable with them for the past 50 years, and that explains the spotty record his books have had onscreen. Here’s hoping Steve doesn’t underestimate his audience, as he sometimes does. Because from where I’m standing right now, this looks like it could be an amazing piece of cinema.
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