March 28, 2015 - 10:55 AMT
Bill Hader joins Steven Spielberg's "Big Friendly Giant"

Bill Hader is added to the cast of Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's book "The BFG" which stands for "The Big Friendly Giant". The "Saturday Night Live" alum is expected to play one of the giants in the film, AceShowbiz reports citing Deadline.

The movie centers on a young girl named Sophie who discovers that giants do exist and there are a great many of them who like to guzzle and swallomp nice little chiddlers. But not the Big Friendly Giant. He and Sophie cook up an ingenious plot to free the world of troggle-humping forever.

Tony winner Mark Rylance is cast as the benevolent giant a.k.a. the titular character, while newcomer Ruby Barnhill is tapped for Sophie. The script is penned by "E.T." co-writer Melissa Mathison. The film is due July 1, 2016 to celebrate Dahl's 100th birthday. Spielberg is expected to begin production soon after wrapping up his Cold War movie "Bridge of Spies" with Tom Hanks.