How a decades-long development journey finally brought Roald Dahl's giant to the screen
In short: The 2016 adaptation of The BFG was a long time coming, with development beginning in the 1990s. Before Steven Spielberg took the helm, the project languished in development hell, once even featuring Robin Williams in a read-through that ultimately failed to capture the character's unique, jumbled language.
The path to the 2016 film was marked by significant shifts in creative vision and corporate ownership. Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall initiated the project in 1991 at Paramount Pictures. During the late 1990s, screenwriters Robin Swicord and Nicholas Kazan drafted an adaptation, but the project stalled. A notable attempt involved Robin Williams, whose improvisational style clashed with the BFG's specific, nonsensical speech patterns, leading to a disappointing read-through. By 2001, the script had been revised by Gwyn Lurie, yet the film rights eventually reverted to the Roald Dahl estate after Paramount lost them.
In September 2011, DreamWorks acquired the rights, and Melissa Mathison was brought on to write the screenplay. Although John Madden was initially attached to direct, Steven Spielberg was announced as the director in April 2014. The film became a complex co-production involving DreamWorks, Amblin Entertainment, Walden Media, and Walt Disney Pictures. This collaboration marked a milestone as the first Disney-branded film directed by Spielberg. The production utilized motion-capture technology, with Mark Rylance cast as the 24-foot-tall BFG and Ruby Barnhill selected as Sophie after an extensive search.
Despite positive critical reception, the film struggled financially, grossing $199 million against a $140 million budget. The story follows Sophie, an orphan who discovers a benevolent giant in London. Together, they navigate the dangers of Giant Country, where man-eating giants like the 54-foot Fleshlumpeater pose a constant threat. The narrative culminates in a daring plan to enlist Queen Elizabeth II to stop the giants. The film was the final project penned by Mathison before her death in 2015, and it remains a dedicated tribute to her work.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The BFG (2016 film)
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