There are few actors in the world as respected as Mark Rylance, but due to the fact he’s mainly been acclaimed on the stage – winning three Tony Awards and two Olivier Awards in the process – there are still plenty of people who have no idea what he looks like. Now though he’s taken a huge role in a major movie, although it’s still to be seen whether he’ll properly look like himself or get covered in CG.
Deadline reports he’s set to play the giant in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming movie version of Roald Dahl’s classic The BFG (Big Friendly Giant). The book concerns a young girl, the Queen of England and a benevolent giant known as the BFG. The three set out on an adventure to capture the evil, man-eating giants who have been invading the human world. There have been suggestions the film will somewhat change the story but the core will remain the same.
Spielberg comments, “As I witnessed on stage, 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 honored he has chosen The BFG as his next big screen performance.”
Dahl’s grandson, Luke Kelly, adds, “We are ecstatic at this choice. Mark is incredibly talented, one of the great British actors working today. I’ve had the privilege of seeing Mark perform, and the thought of watching him transform into ‘the only nice and jumbly Giant in Giant Country’ is, as The BFG himself might say, absolutely phizz-whizzing.”
Rylance already has a role in Spielberg’s upcoming Untitled Cold War Thriller, which stars Tom Hanks. The BFG shoots next year with a July 1st, 2016 release date set.
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