--- title: 'The BFG': Spielberg to Direct Roald Dahl Classic description: The 1982 children's book classic about a big friendly giant is coming to theaters in 2016 thanks to Steven Spielberg canonical: https://time.com/78126/roald-dahl-bfg-spielberg/ author: Nolan Feeney article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-04-26T14:51:20.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-21T07:31:06.981Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Spielberg to adapt Roald Dahl's 'The BFG' og:description: The 1982 children's book classic about a big friendly giant is coming to theaters in 2016 thanks to Steven Spielberg og:url: https://time.com/78126/roald-dahl-bfg-spielberg/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6117aa29e297f03c/69868cace53abac0ca4d24bb/169099150.jpg?branch=production&width=667&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 667 og:image:height: 375 og:image:alt: 'Inside Llewyn Davis' Premiere - The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival Day 5 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Spielberg to adapt Roald Dahl's 'The BFG' twitter:description: The 1982 children's book classic about a big friendly giant is coming to theaters in 2016 thanks to Steven Spielberg twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6117aa29e297f03c/69868cace53abac0ca4d24bb/169099150.jpg?branch=production&width=667&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Spielberg to Direct Roald Dahl's _The BFG_ > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.  by [Nolan Feeney](https://time.com/author/nolan-feeney/)  ## Nolan Feeney Apr 26, 2014 2:51 PM UTC  Steven Spielberg at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France. Steven Spielberg at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France. Tony Barson—FilmMagic/Getty Images  by [Nolan Feeney](https://time.com/author/nolan-feeney/)  ## Nolan Feeney Apr 26, 2014 2:51 PM UTC Steven Spielberg is set to direct the big-screen adaptation of [Roald Dahl’s _The BFG_](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steven-spielberg-direct-roald-dahl-699095). The live-action movie about a big friendly giant — or BFG — who becomes friends with a young girl will shoot next year and open in theaters in 2016, according to _The Hollywood Reporter_. DreamWorks acquired the rights to the 1982 children’s book in 2011, though several directors had been attached to the project before Spielberg committed. Melissa Mathison, who wrote Spielberg’s _E.T._, has written a screenplay. The book was previously adapted as an animated television movie in the U.K. in 1989\. Several of Dahl’s works have also been made into movies, including _James and the Giant Peach_ in 1996; _Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory_ in 1971 (a similarly titled remake starring Johnny Depp premiered in 2005); and _The Fantastic Mr. Fox_ in 2009. \[[_THR_](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steven-spielberg-direct-roald-dahl-699095)\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/78126/roald-dahl-bfg-spielberg/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/78126/roald-dahl-bfg-spielberg/"},"headline":"Spielberg to Direct Roald Dahl's The BFG","datePublished":"2014-04-26T14:51:20.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T07:31:06.981Z","description":"The director will reteam with E.T. screenwriter Melissa Mathison for a 2016 release of the classic children's book, in which a big friendly giant befriends a young orphaned girl. 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