Steven Spielberg has found his next film project after "The BFG."

The director has just signed on to direct the science fiction flick "Ready Player One." The film is based on Ernest Cline's book of the same name. The novel was published in 2011 and follows the rise of a virtual reality universe known as "the Oasis," which humans living in the not-too-distant future begin to value above the real world.

The script has already been written by Zak Penn, who is best known for his work on "Elektra," "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "The Incredible Hulk."

Warner Bros., Village Roadshow and DreamWorks will release the film, while Spielberg, Donald De Line, Dan Farah and Kristie Macosko Krieger will produce.

The film marks Spielberg's return to the science fiction genre, as he has directed the acclaimed films "Minority Report" and "Artificial Intelligence: A.I." He has also directed the 2005 sci-fi picture "War of the Worlds."

Spielberg is one of the most prolific directors in the world, and he has been able to crossover into numerous genres ranging from action adventure to dramatic films. Among his best known films are "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Jaws," "Jurassic Park" and his Oscar-winning pictures "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan," "Munich" and his most recent "Lincoln."

Spielberg's latest film, "Bridge of Spies," reunites him with Tom Hanks and is already getting Oscar buzz. The film takes place in the Cold War and opens in October.

Shortly after this film, the director will take on Roald Dahl's "The BFG," which is an iconic children's book. The film stars Mark Rylance, Rebecca Hall and Bill Hader. The adaptation tells the story of a young girl, the Queen of England, and a benevolent giant known as the BFG. The film is scheduled for next summer.

"Ready Player One" is scheduled for Dec. 15, 2017.