The Great Gilly Hopkins ( film ) - wikipedia The Great Gilly Hopkins ( film ) The Great Gilly Hopkins Theatrical release poster Directed by Stephen Herek Produced by David L. Paterson John Paterson William Teitler Brian Kennedy Written by David L. Paterson Based on The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson Starring Sophie Nélisse Kathy Bates Julia Stiles Bill Cobbs Billy Magnussen Octavia Spencer Glenn Close Cinematography David M. Dunlap Edited by David Leonard Production company Arcady Bay Entertainment Distributed by Lionsgate Premiere Release date October 6, 2015 ( 2015 - 10 - 06 ) ( Schlingel ) October 7, 2016 ( 2016 - 10 - 07 ) ( United States ) Running time 99 minutes Country United States Language English The Great Gilly Hopkins is a 2015 American comedy - drama film directed by Stephen Herek and written by David L. Paterson. It is based on Katherine Paterson 's 1978 children 's book of the same name. The film stars Sophie Nélisse, Julia Stiles, Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Octavia Spencer, Bill Cobbs, and Billy Magnussen. The film was released on October 7, 2016, by Lionsgate Premiere. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Release 5 References 6 External links Plot Gilly Hopkins is the meanest girl in town : she has a birth mother she has never seen and has moved from one foster home to another. Learning that she will be sent to a new home, she wastes no time stirring up trouble. Then she meets a woman named Trotter, who wants to be the mother Gilly needs. With Gilly posing a challenge, Trotter must prove a good relationship will benefit both of them. Cast Sophie Nélisse as Gilly Hopkins Kathy Bates as Maime Trotter Glenn Close as Nonnie Hopkins Julia Stiles as Courtney Rutherford Hopkins Zachary Hernandez as W.E. ( William Ernest ) Bill Cobbs as Mr. Randolph Octavia Spencer as Miss Harris Billy Magnussen as Ellis Clare Foley as Agnes Sammy Pignalosa as Rajeem Toby Turner as Ticket Agent Production On February 8, 2013, it was announced that Stephen Herek would direct an adaption of The Great Gilly Hopkins, with Kathy Bates and Danny Glover set to star in the film. On February 6, 2014, Sophie Nélisse, Glenn Close and Octavia Spencer joined the cast of the film. On May 9, 2014, Julia Stiles and Bill Cobbs joined the cast of the film. Cobbs replaced Glover, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Principal photography began on April 9, 2014, and ended on June 15, 2014. Release The film premiered on October 6, 2015, at the SCHLINGEL International Film Festival. Lionsgate Premiere acquired distribution rights, and set the film for an October 7, 2016, release. References Jump up ^ `` The Great Gilly Hopkins Movie Review ''. Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 26. ^ Jump up to : Leo Barraclough ( 2014 - 02 - 06 ). `` Glenn Close, Sophie Nelisse, Octavia Spencer Join ' The Great Gilly Hopkins ' ''. Variety. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 17. ^ Jump up to : Yamato, Jen. `` Julia Stiles Joins Movie Adaptation ' The Great Gilly Hopkins ' ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Billy Magnussen and Julia Stiles Join `` The Great Gilly Hopkins '' Film ``. Playbill.com. 2014 - 05 - 12. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 17. Jump up ^ Tartaglione, Nancy. `` Berlin : Stephen Herek To Direct Kathy Bates, Danny Glover In ' The Great Gilly Hopkins ' ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 17. Jump up ^ `` On The Set For 4 / 14 / 14 : Kristen Stewart & Jesse Eisenberg 's American Ultra Starts ''. Studiosystemnews.com. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 17. Jump up ^ `` On The Set For 6 / 16 / 14 : Boxing Drama Southpaw Starts, American Ultra Wraps ''. Studiosystemnews.com. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Filmarchiv ''. Archiv.ff-schlingel.de. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 27. Jump up ^ Wiseman, Andreas ( May 14, 2016 ). `` Lionsgate adopts ' The Great Gilly Hopkins ' for US ''. Screen Daily. Retrieved July 26, 2016. External links The Great Gilly Hopkins on IMDb The Great Gilly Hopkins at Rotten Tomatoes Films directed by Stephen Herek Critters ( 1986 ) Bill & Ted 's Excellent Adventure ( 1989 ) The Gifted One ( 1989 ) Do n't Tell Mom the Babysitter 's Dead ( 1991 ) The Mighty Ducks ( 1992 ) The Three Musketeers ( 1993 ) Mr. Holland 's Opus ( 1995 ) 101 Dalmatians ( 1996 ) Holy Man ( 1998 ) Rock Star ( 2001 ) Life or Something Like It ( 2002 ) Man of the House ( 2005 ) Picture This ( 2008 ) Dead like Me : Life After Death ( 2009 ) Into the Blue 2 : The Reef ( 2009 ) The Cutting Edge : Fire and Ice ( 2010 ) The Chaperone ( 2011 ) Jinxed ( 2013 ) Dolly Parton 's Coat of Many Colors ( 2015 ) The Great Gilly Hopkins ( 2015 ) Dolly Parton 's Christmas of Many Colors : Circle of Love ( 2016 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Great_Gilly_Hopkins_(film)&oldid=852574057 '' Categories : 2015 films English - language films American films American drama films 2010s drama films Films directed by Stephen Herek Lions Gate Entertainment films Films based on American novels Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Italiano Edit links This page was last edited on 29 July 2018, at 23 : 08 ( UTC ). 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Question: who plays mr randolph in the great gilly hopkins
Answer: Bill Cobbs