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Steven Spielberg has a slew of adapted films on schedule to be released in the coming year or two. He’ll direct the adaptation of the much-anticipated The BFG, while serving as producer on The Adventures on Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun, with both hitting the theatres next year. It was announced back in March that Spielberg will direct the dystopian sci-fi Ready Player One, based on Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel, and now, according to THR, the film is set to sign its first major star.
Ready Player One is set in a virtual world called The Oasis. Once its founder dies, he sets up a treasure hunt with his fortune as the grand prize. Teenager Wade Watts must battle ruthless foes who will do anything to get their hands on the money – in The Oasis and the real world.
Olivia Cooke, who starred in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, a festival favourite right now, is being tapped to play the female lead, Samantha Evelyn Cook. Cook is Watts’ love interest and competitor whose name in the virtual reality simulator is Art3mis.
This is only the first casting announcement so far, with Warner Bros. obviously trying to capitalise on the actresses’ recent success. Zak Penn (The Avengers) and Eric Eason (A Better Life) wrote the script, with the film expected to be released in December, 2017.
Ayden Walker – @walkaydenwalk.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
