Brooke Bunny
Ruby Barnhill, out of Cheshire, England, has been selected to play Sophie in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The BFG”, according to Deadline.
Mark Rylance is already set as the title character.
Barnhill makes her feature film debut in the film, though she has been acting for two years – in BBC TV shows and in local theater.
Published in 1982, The BFG is the story of a young London girl and the world’s only benevolent giant who introduces her to the beauty and peril of Giant Country. The two set off on an adventure (with the aid of the Queen of England) to capture the evil, man-eating giants who have been invading the human world. Spielberg is beginning production early in the New Year and Disney releases on July 1, 2016 in the U.S. EOne will bring it to the UK on July 22, 2016.
“I feel Roald Dahl himself would have found Ruby every bit as marvelous as we do. We have discovered a wonderful Sophie in Ruby Barnhill,” Spielberg said in a statement.
Barnhill also enthused, “I feel incredibly lucky and I’m so happy. Sophie gets to go on this wonderful adventure and I’m so excited that I get to play her.”
Luke Kelly, Managing Director of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and Dahl’s grandson, said, “The character of Sophie is one of the most endearing young heroes in Roald Dahl’s stories. She is as brave as she is curious and has an innate sense of wonder. Many congratulations to Ruby on landing the role. We hope that making The BFG proves an utterly magical adventure for her.”
