Steven Spielberg's BFG gets UK release date from eOne

Entertainment One (eOne) has announced a July 22, 2016 release date in the UK for a new feature film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic The BFG (the Big Friendly Giant), directed by Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg said: “It is fitting that the UK is the first international country to announce the date of The BFG, a story that sprang from the imagination of this proud son from Wales. We at DreamWorks Studios hope our film will add to Roald Dahl’s prolific legacy of entertainment.”

The BFG is the story of a young girl, the Queen of England and a benevolent giant known as the BFG, who set out on an adventure to capture the evil, man-eating giants who have been invading the human world.

Spielberg will direct the new adaptation with Melissa Mathison, who last worked with him on ET, writing the script. Frank Marshall and Spielberg will produce the film and Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden and Michael Siegel are on board as executive producers. The BFG will be a DreamWorks Studios and Amblin Entertainment production.

It was previously announced that the film will be released in the US on July 1, 2016.

First published in 1982, The BFG is one of Dahl’s most iconic books, with memorable illustrations by Quentin Blake, and was recently voted amongst the top 10 favourite children’s books of the past 150 years.

2016 will also mark the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth.

Luke Kelly, Dahl’s grandson and MD of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, said: “We are so thrilled and excited at this collaboration between two storytelling giants - Roald Dahl and Steven Spielberg.

“The fact that Steven is bringing one of my grandfather’s best-loved stories and characters to the big screen in the middle of the year in which we will celebrate Roald Dahl’s Centenary is even more fantastic.”

Dahl’s books have sold more than 200 million copies around the world, of which 37 million were in the UK.

Film adaptations of his books, which include Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, have grossed more than £65m ($110m) at the UK box office.