Mark Rylance is to play the title character in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of ‘The BFG’.
The 67-year-old filmmaker said he was "honoured" the Brit had accepted the opportunity to star in the much-anticipated film, which is based on Roald Dahl’s novel about an orphaned girl called Sophie who is befriended by a kindly giant.
Spielberg commented: "Mark Rylance is a transformational actor. I am excited and thrilled that Mark will be making this journey with us to Giant Country.
"Everything about his career so far is about making the courageous choice, and I’m honoured he has chosen ‘The BFG’ as his next big screen performance."
Rylance, 54, is currently working alongside Spielberg on an untitled Cold War spy thriller, which also features Hollywood legend Tom Hanks.
But Rylance is perhaps best known for his association with Shakespeare’s Globe in London and for his part in stage hit ‘Jerusalem’.
Shooting for the film will begin in 2015 and it will be released in July 2016 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth.
The author, who died in 1990 at the age of 74, regarded ‘The BFG’ as one of his favourite books.
Mark Rylance to star in The BFG
