The BFG 2: Giant Dreams (2025) is a potential sequel to the 2016 film The BFG, based on the beloved children’s novel by Roald Dahl. Directed by Steven Spielberg and featuring a magical world of giants, The BFG captured the imaginations of viewers with its heartwarming story of a young orphan girl, Sophie, and her friendship with the Big Friendly Giant (BFG). A sequel could continue the adventure and further explore the magical world of the giants, possibly introducing new themes, characters, and challenges.

Story:

The BFG 2: Giant Dreams would likely follow the continuing adventures of Sophie and the BFG, delving deeper into the magical world of giants and exploring new parts of the world and new characters. Here are some possibilities for the direction the story could take:

Sophie and the BFG’s New Mission:
- After the events of the first film, where Sophie helped the BFG stop the evil giants from terrorizing the world, the sequel could focus on new adventures. Sophie and the BFG might embark on a journey to help other children, visiting different lands where the giants’ influence still lingers.
- The BFG may also reveal more about his dreams and how they shape the world, leading Sophie to a new mission to help the giants create positive dreams that can help the world. This could involve traveling to other magical places or even discovering a new realm of dreams where more magical creatures exist.
The Dreamworld’s Deeper Secrets:
- The Dreamworld, where the BFG collects and distributes dreams, could play a central role in The BFG 2: Giant Dreams. The film could explore the origins of the Dreamworld and how it connects to the lives of children across the globe. Sophie might discover that the Dreamworld itself is in danger, perhaps due to a threat from another realm of nightmares.
- New, more mysterious and magical elements of the Dreamworld could be uncovered, introducing new creatures, locations, and challenges for Sophie and the BFG.
A New Giant Challenge:
- While the first film focused on the villainous giants, The BFG 2 might explore the other giants who were once seen as “normal” in comparison to the evil giants. Some of these giants could be misunderstood and, with Sophie’s help, might be able to change and make a difference. This would give a sense of redemption to the giants and introduce new, larger-than-life characters with unique personalities.
- Alternatively, the sequel could introduce a new antagonist—perhaps another evil giant, or a more significant force of darkness that threatens the Dreamworld, the BFG’s existence, or even the entire human world.
Sophie’s Growing Role:
- Sophie has already proven herself brave and capable in the first film, and in Giant Dreams, she might take on a larger role in helping the BFG. She may grow into a more mature and confident character, developing her own unique skills to interact with the giants and the Dreamworld.
- The sequel could delve into Sophie’s own dreams and how she influences the Dreamworld, maybe even learning to create dreams herself, which could be a new power or responsibility she must balance.
Themes of Hope and Imagination:
- As the тιтle Giant Dreams suggests, the sequel could explore themes of imagination, hope, and the power of dreams. Sophie and the BFG may work together to inspire children’s dreams that can bring about real-world change, combating negativity, fear, or despair through the power of positivity and kindness.
- The idea that dreams can shape the world would be central, with the protagonists facing challenges that require them to use their imagination, optimism, and creativity to solve problems.

Characters:

Sophie: The brave and kind-hearted young girl will likely continue to be the emotional heart of the film. As she grows older, Sophie’s role could evolve from just being the BFG’s helper to a co-leader who plays an integral part in the adventure and decision-making process.
The BFG (Mark Rylance): The gentle, lovable giant who collects dreams will still be the central figure in the story. His relationship with Sophie could continue to deepen, and he might face new challenges related to his role in the Dreamworld and how he can create positive dreams to help others.
The Other Giants: The other giants, both friendly and possibly mischievous, could play a larger role in the sequel. There might be some new giants introduced—ones who, unlike the evil giants from the first film, are more neutral or misunderstood, but who still need Sophie and the BFG’s help.
New Villains: A new antagonist might be introduced—perhaps a giant who seeks to destroy the Dreamworld or one that wants to corrupt the dreams. This new threat could push Sophie and the BFG to team up in creative ways to save the Dreamworld and the children’s dreams.

Visual Style:

Like the first film, The BFG 2: Giant Dreams would feature stunning visual effects, bringing the fantastical elements of the Dreamworld and the giant world to life. Tim Burton-esque whimsy and magic could come into play, with vibrant and surreal landscapes, both in the Dreamworld and the human world, providing visually arresting backdrops to the action.
The Dreamworld could be further expanded, showing how dreams manifest and how they can be shaped or altered. The magical sequences could be even more imaginative, with dazzling dreamscapes and dream creatures.

Music:

The music, like in the first film, would likely be emotionally resonant and magical, enhancing the whimsical and touching moments in the film. A sweeping orchestral score, combined with lighter, dreamlike motifs, would match the magical atmosphere of the Dreamworld.
The soundtrack could include original compositions to further immerse the audience in the fantastical world of dreams and imagination.

Tone:

The BFG 2: Giant Dreams would likely continue the light-hearted, heartwarming tone of the first film, with a mix of adventure, humor, and emotional moments. There would be a focus on positivity, hope, and the power of dreams, creating a family-friendly atmosphere full of warmth and imagination.
While the stakes might be higher and the threats more intense, the film would still carry a sense of wonder and whimsy, ensuring that it appeals to both children and adults.

Overall Expectations:

The BFG 2: Giant Dreams (2025) would be a magical continuation of the original story, diving deeper into the imaginative and whimsical world of dreams, while exploring new adventures, characters, and challenges. The themes of friendship, hope, and imagination would remain at the core of the story, continuing the legacy of Roald Dahl’s original tale. Fans of the first film can expect visually stunning sequences, a heartwarming narrative, and an exploration of the power of dreams to inspire positive change in the world.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.