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Tom Hanks will reportedly star in a Steven Spielberg-directed Cold War drama

Tom Hanks will reportedly star as real-life U.S. Attorney James Donovan, who negotiated the release of an American pilot captured by the Soviet Union, in a movie directed by Steven Spielberg. Tom Hanks recently starred in the film 'Saving Mr. Banks.'

We’re closing in on two years from when the last Steven Spielberg-directed movie (the Oscar-winnerÌý)ÌýhitÌýtheaters. Since then, the filmmaker has been linked to a couple projects (Robopocalypse,ÌýGods and Kings)Ìýthat have since either beenÌýÌýor fallen into development hell. Recently, the word’s been that Spielberg will next direct a currently-untitled Cold War drama, followed by aÌýlive-action movie based onÌýRoald Dahl’sÌý; we can confirm the news, asÌýthese films now have official release dates.

Spielberg’sÌýE.T.Ìýscreenwriter Melissa Mathison wasÌýÌýto adaptÌýTheÌýBFGÌý– Dahl’s book about the young orphan Sophie, who befriends theÌýwhimsical, dream-delivering,ÌýBig Friendly Giant, BFG for short. As for Spielberg’s Cold War drama, the script by Matt Charman tells the true story U.S. attorney James Donovan, who negotiated the release of an American pilot captured by the Soviet Union during the Cold War; we learned that Chapman’s screenplay has beenÌý.

Previously, it was indicated that it’s Spielberg’s intention to shoot his Cold War drama (starring Tom Hanks as Mr. Donovan) in the months ahead, before he starts production on theÌýÌýin 2015. We can now confirm that will happen, as Walt Disney Pictures – which is co-backing the dual DreamWorks’ projects – has announced that Spielberg’s latest period drama/thriller will hit theaters on October 16th, 2015, followed byÌýThe BFGÌýsome 8-9 months later on July 1st, 2016.

The combination of Spielberg, Coen Brothers, Hanks, and historical subject matter with relevant political overtones, makes this Cold War project sound rather intriguing; no wonder, then, it’s been positioned as a prospective awards season contender. As it stands, Spielberg’s drama will onlyÌýhave opening weekend competition in Guillermo del Toro’s haunted house film throwback,; we expect that the two movies will be able to coexist in peace, as far as box office goes.

BFGÌýcurrentlyÌýhas opening weekend competition from theÌýÌýanimated feature,Ìýand theÌýÌýreboot by director David Yates (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & 2). Logic suggests Warner Bros. will blink and shiftÌýTarzanÌýto another date before 20th Century Fox budges on havingÌýIndependence Day 2Ìýin theaters by the Fourth of July holiday frame. We’ve stillÌýgot overÌýtwo years to go until then, soÌýthere’s a very good chance that at leastÌýoneof these four movies will have moved away by that time.

As we’ve said before, this is classic Spielberg: release two film in close proximity, with each movie being rather different in terms of style, budget, tone, and overallÌýcontent. Spielberg has generally done very goodÌýwork by using this approach, most recently withÌýWar HorseÌýandÌýAdventures of Tintinin 2011 – and evenÌýsome of the best films of his career in the past (see:ÌýJurassic ParkÌýandSchindler’s ListÌýin 1993). So, for our money, this is an encouraging development.

Sandy Schaefer blogs at .