Steven Spielberg Picks Next Two Films: A Cold War Thriller And 'The BFG'

After several years releasing movie on top of movie, Steven Spielberg has taken his time choosing his next project. Around half a dozen films were under consideration, but now two films have gotten release dates, officially announcing them as his next two projects.

The first is no surprise, the Untitled Cold War Thriller starring Tom Hanks. It's been scheduled for release Oct. 16, 2015. After that, Spielberg will direct an adaptation of The BFG by Roald Dahl. That'll hit theaters July 1, 2016.

ERC Box Office first reported the new release dates. They close nature of them suggest Spielberg will be working on post-production of the Cold War film while he's shooting The BFG, a practice he's very comfortable with (see films released in 2011, 2005, 2002, 1997 and 1993).

Here's what we know about the Untitled Cold War Thriller. Writer Matt Charman penned a script that tells "the true story of James Donovan, an attorney who was put into the center of the Cold War when he negotiated the release of downed U-2 spy plane pilot Gary Powers." Hanks and Spielberg came onboard, Joel and Ethan Coen are currently rewriting the script, and actor Mark Rylance is part of the cast. You'd assume Hanks would play Donovan and, since he's the second person cast, maybe Rylance is Powers. That's speculative though.

Not surprisingly for a film with heavyweights like this, the October 2015 release date pins it as an early Oscar-hopeful next year.

Then there's The BFG, which Spielberg only recently became attached to. E.T. writer Melissa Mathison wrote the screenplay for the film, which is based on the 1982 book written by Roald Dahl. "BFG" stands for "Big, Friendly, Giant" as the story is about a young girl who befriends the title character, an outcast among his own people who refuses to eat little kids.

This is becoming classic Spielberg. Make two movies at the same time, one for adults, one for families. I can't say these are the two movies he's attached to I wanted to see most (Robopocalypse, anyone?) but I'll line up to see anything he makes forever. So Cold War and BFG it is.