Things are moving along nicely on Spielberg”s Ready Player One, with an early summer start currently on the cards.

We were delighted to be first with the news back in November that Spielberg had chosen the UK as his production base for the film, which is an adaptation of the award-winning sci-fi dystopian novel by Ernest Cline.

Set in 2045, the book centres on teenager Wade Watts and his devotion to a virtual utopia known as Oasis, which contains thousands of different worlds.

Among many puzzles – which revolve around the creator’s fixation with past pop culture – and set within the virtual universe, is a vastly complex treasure hunt to find an egg, launched when the eccentric billionaire creator dies. This search takes Watts on a dangerous and possibly deadly path as he sets out to win the power and wealth promised to the victor.

Tye Sheridan is set to play Watts, starring alongside Olivia Cooke and Ben Mendelsohn. Simon Pegg is the latest talent reported to be coming on board. Spielberg also produces, working alongside Donald De Line, Dan Farah and Kristie Macosko Krieger.

Crew-wise, we have had some very important additions recently, with confirmation of the UK UPM, casting director, production co-ordinator and production designer all now listed on PI along with the studio.

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Spielberg picture via Andrew Burton/Getty Images Ent.