Movie News: Penelope Wilton to play The Queen in Steven Spielberg's 'The BFG' film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book

Downton Abbey and Olivier Award winning actress Penelope Wilton (photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images North America) will be co-starring and playing The Queen role in director Steven Spielberg's new film adaptation, The BFG. Spielberg has teamed up with Disney and will be directing the movie, which filming and production is underway in Vancouver. The film is set for release on July 1st, 2016 in the US and on July 22nd, 2016 in the UK.

 Read more info. about The BFG movie via Radio Times below...

Downton Abbey's Penelope Wilton to play the Queen in BFG movie

Penelope Wilton's life of on-screen luxury will not end with Downton Abbey – the Olivier Award-winning actress is set to play the Queen in Steven Spielberg's movie version of The BFG. 

Wilton, who plays Isobel Crawley in ITV's period drama, joins Wolf Hall star Mark Rylance in the adaptation of the classic children's book by Roald Dahl. Rylance will play the Big Friendly Giant himself.

Rebecca Hall, who appeared opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in BBC1's Parade's End, has also been cast in the big screen adaptation, along with Flight of the Conchords comedian Jermaine Clement. 

Director Steven Spielberg has teamed up with Disney to make the film, which is expected to be released in summer 2016 – 100 years after Roald Dahl's birth.

New child actress Ruby Barnhill will play young orphan Sophie, who meets the BFG and eventually convinces the Queen of England to capture the horrid child-eating giants of Giant Country.

Wilton has already said she is not sad that this will be the last year of Downton Abbey: “I’m not upset about it,” she said at the 2015 Olivier Awards. “When something has run its course, it’s good to end on a high note.”

Also, more info. about the movie via Flickering Myth...

Disney to co-produce Steven Spielberg’s The BFG, full cast announced

With production underway in Vancouver, Walt Disney Studios has announced that it will co-produce and co-finance The BFG, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book.

Three-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance (The Gunmen) will play the title character, with newcomer Ruby Barnhill cast as Sophie, but today with the Disney deal comes news of the rest of the cast for the film.

Bill Hader (The Skeleton Twins) and Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows) are the bigger names in the cast, as well as Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey) and Rebecca Hall (The Prestige), who will play The Queen and The Queen’s maid, Mary, in the film.

The BFG tells the story of a young London girl and the mysterious Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, The BFG  was first published in 1982 and is one of Dahl’s most beloved books.

Melissa Mathison, who worked with Spielberg on E.T., has written the script, with the film set for release on July 1st, 2016 in the US and on July 22nd, 2016 in the UK.

Read full article here.