Over the weekend, directorSteven Spielberg’s new filmThe BFGhit theaters, an adaptation ofRoald Dahl’s beloved novel, debuting in fourth place at the box office with $19.5 million. Since this adaptation was filmed with a whopping $140 million budget, it seems unlikely that the film will turn a profit, barring a big surge both domestically and globally. The director isn’t wasting any time getting back to work, with word surfacing this weekend that the filmmaker has already completed the first week of production on his next film,Ready Player One.
The news comes from theTwitteraccount of screenwriterZak Penn, who adaptedReady Player Onewith authorErnest Cline. The writer also thankedErnest Clinefor the “assist in Oology.” For those who aren’t familiar with the original book, Oology is a branch of ornithology that centers on bird nesting and breeding habits. In the novel, Oology refers to the players participating in the Halliday’s Hidden Egg Hunt, a quest to solve the last puzzle designed by OASIS creator James Halliday before his death.
Ready Player Onecenters on a teenager namedWade Watts(Tye Sheridan), who becomes obsessed with thisvirtual realityworld that allows players to live out their fantasies. After the game’s creator suddenly dies, an elaborate treasure hunt is held within the Oasis world, with the winner emerging to take control of the entire company. Along with gamers from around the world, Wade joins the adventure, and quickly finds himself pitted against powerful corporate foes and other ruthless competitors who will do anything, in the oasis or the real world, to reach the treasure first.
The cast also includesOlivia Cookeas Sam, a Canadian blogger who is known in the Oasis world as Art3mis, and will become alove interestfor the lead character.Ben Mendelsohnis playing the executive of an Internet company who is trying to take control of Oasis.Mark RylanceandSimon Pegghave also recently joined the cast as James Donovan Halliday andOrgen Morrow, who co-created Oasis. It isn’t known how many other main characters have yet to be cast, but hopefully we’ll get a full confirmed cast list soon now that filming is under way.
Steven Spielbergis directing from a script byZak PennandErnest Cline, who wrote the original novel the movie is adapted from.Ready Player Onewas originally scheduled for release on July 22, 2025, but that was before Disney announced that their highly-anticipated sequelStar Wars: Episode VIIIwill now debut on that date. Warner Bros. announced in February that they will moveReady Player Oneto June 28, 2025, where it currently doesn’t have any competition in that date. Take a look atZak Penn’s tweet below, and stay tuned for more onReady Player One.
