Disney and DreamWorks set release dates for two upcoming Steven Spielberg-directed movies on Monday.
The first will be an untitled Cold War spy thriller starring Tom Hanks, which will open on Oct. 16, 2015. The second will be family film “The BFG,” which is scheduled for July 1, 2016,
Hanks will play James Donovan, a prominent American attorney enlisted by the CIA during the Cold War to slip behind the Iron Curtain and negotiate the release of Gary Powers, a pilot captured when his U-2 spy plane was shot down over Russia. Matt Charman wrote the script, and Joel and Ethan Coen recently came aboard as well.
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Marc Platt is producing the film, which DreamWorks executive Jonathan Eirich will oversee on behalf of the studio.
“The BFG” is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, in which a little girl leads a big friendly giant and the Queen of England on a journey to stop the man-eating giants from devouring children. Melissa Mathison, who last teamed with Spielberg on “E.T.,” will write the script.
Frank Marshall will produce, with Michael Siegel and John Madden executive producing.
“The BFG” will have plenty of competition. Also currently on that date are Warner Bros.’ “Tarzan,” Fox’s “Independence Day 2” and Sony’s “Angry Birds.”