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Mark Rylance heads to Giant Country in Steven Spielberg's film The BFG

The darling of the theatre world is swapping Shakespeare for the silver screen in a new adaption of Roald Dahl's classic

Matilda Battersby

Tuesday 28 October 2014 09:31 GMT

The BFG - Quentin Blake's illustration of the Dahl character and orphan Sophie (Rex Features )

He grabbed the world’s attention as Rooster Byron in Jez Butterworth’s smash hit theatre production Jerusalem. But now Mark Rylance is set to play another loner on the fringes of society – but this hermit has a rather higher profile in more ways than one.

The Shakespearean actor has been cast as the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the much-loved Roald Dahl children’s book.

“As I witnessed on stage, Mark Rylance is a transformational actor,” Spielberg told The Hollywood Reporter.

"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."

Mark Rylance as Johnny 'Rooster' Byron in Jerusalem (Getty Images)

The story, about a giant who is befriended by a young orphan called Sophie (whom the author named after his granddaughter, the model and TV chef Sophie Dahl), has sold millions of copies around the world in more than 30 languages.

It was made into a popular film animation in 1989.

Production for the new Dreamworks movie is due to start next year with the film planned to be in cinemas in 2016. The film studio first acquired the rights in 2011.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Show all 12

1/12In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Willy Wonka from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

Willy Wonka (pictured being played by Gene Wilder in 1967) is a bizarre and slightly unsettling man but who can say no to that delicious chocolate?

Getty

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Oompa Loompas from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

Despite the characters' questionable evolution from being African pygmies in early editions of the novel, the Oompa Loompas were so fantastical they captured the imagination of generations. The first film's version of the characters are still a popular fancy dress theme.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Veruca Salt from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

The girl who "wants it now" is so incredibly vile she ended up in the rubbish after being judged a bad nut by Willy Wonka's squirrels. An American alternative rock band even took her name.

YouTube

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Twits from 'The Twits'

Mr and Mrs Twit are horrible, hideous and hateful, coating trees with glue to catch birds to at. But the Roly-Poly Bird and Muggle-Wumps teach them a lesson in the end.

Quentin Blake/House of Illustration

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

James from 'James and the Giant Peach'

James is beaten and starved by his cruel aunts after his parents are eaten by an escaped rhino but eventually gets to go on an adventure with the friends he has always waited for on his magic peach, ending up on the top of the Empire State Building.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Matilda from 'Matilda'

Every little girl who read 'Matilda' wondered what it would be like to be the main character. Apart from th abusive family, the telekinesis must be endless fun.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Miss Trunchbull from 'Matilda'

Miss Trunchbull, played by Pam Ferris in the 1996 film, is the aunt and headmistress of every child's worst nightmares. Just think of poor Bruce Bogtrotter and that cake.

YouTube

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Big Friendly Giant from 'The BFG'

A 24-foot-tall BFG works giving out good dreams to children and saves them all from people-eating giants. Shame about the snozzcumbers.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Grand High Witch from 'The Witches'

The Grand High Witch, seen here in the film, must be one of Dahl's most terrifying creations. Turning children into slugs and squishing them, she wanted to destroy them all, she had no hair or toes and claws for hands.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Mr Fox from 'Fantastic Mr Fox'

Mr Fox outsmarts those silly farmers, feeding his family by killing their chickens and avoiding starvation.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

George from 'George's Marvellous Medicine'

Some people would say that swapping your gran's medicine with poison isn't ok but that isn't the point here.

YouTube

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Grandma from 'George's Marvellous Medicine'

Grandma was quite a character until she vanished: 'She was selfish grumpy old woman. She had pale brown teeth and a small pucker-up mouth like a dog's bottom.'

YouTube

Rylance, who we will next see on TV playing Thomas Cromwell in the BBC's version of Hilary Mantel's award-winning novels (Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies), is a renowned stage actor and was artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe for many years.

Mark Rylance in Wolf Hall (BBC)

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