Mark Rylance joins Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller Ready Player One for Warner and Village Roadshow.
The cast includes Simon Pegg, Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke and Ben Mendelsohn in the film based on Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel — set in the virtual universe Oasis.
In the story, set in the year 2044, humans have come to prefer Oasis to the real world. Sheridan will portray a teen who winds up competing in a treasure hunt against ruthless foes after the game’s founder dies.
Rylance would play Oasis creator James Donovan Halliday. “Bloodine” actor Mendelsohn has been cast as the villain.
Spielberg is producing “Ready Player One” through his Amblin Partners banner, along with Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Dan Farah.
Warner pushed “Ready Player One” back three months to March 30, 2018, which allows the film to steer clear of “Star Wars: Episode VIII.”
Rylance will also star in Spielberg’s historical drama “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara” for Amblin Entertainment.
Spielberg will shoot the film in the first quarter of 2017 after he finishes production on “Ready Player One.”
Rylance won an Oscar for best supporting actor in Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies” and is playing the title character in the director’s “The BFG.” Rylance is also starring in Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk,” which goes into production next month.
