Moving the much-anticipated virtual reality thriller a step closer to fruition, Warner Bros. Village Roadshow and Dreamworks have set a December 15, 2017 release for the novel adaptation Ready Player One, to be directed by Steven Spielberg.Spielberg signed on back in March. He’s been keeping plenty busy lately as he finished up his directorial duties on the Tom Hanks led Bridge of Spies and completed production on the Roald Dahl adaptation The BFG.

The film, an adaptation of the popular novel by Ernest Cline, centers on a young gamer named Wade Watts who is obsessed with the global virtual reality world called ‘Oasis’. When the founder of the game dies, it sets in motion a worldwide contest between players to solve riddles, crack codes and find the hidden Easter eggs which will eventually lead to one participant inheriting the creator’s vast fortune. Zak Penn (The Avengers, the upcoming Pacific Rim 2) is adapting Cline’s novel.

The last film Spielberg directed for Warner was 2001’s A.I. Artificial Intellegence, and the studio seems more than happy to have him back in the fold. In a statement regarding the release date, Dan Fellman, Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution said:

Any film from Steven Spielberg is an event film, so it felt right to date this thrilling new project from one of our greatest filmmakers for the holiday season.