I am – Hercules!!
Tom Hanks, who wrote and directed the period rock-band romantic dramedy “That Thing You Do” in 1996, is getting back in the game!
He’ll be directing his “Charlie Wilson’s War” co-star Julia Roberts in “Larry Crowne,” which Variety says “centers on a middle-aged man being forced to find a new career.”
Hanks also wrote the screenplay.
I’m assuming he also plays the lead, but the Variety story is unclear on that point. Hanks played only a supporting role in “That Thing You Do.”
No distributor is yet attached.
While Hanks hasn’t directed any new big-screen fare in the last 14 years, he has since directed terrific episodes of his HBO miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon” and “Band of Brothers.” He also co-wrote four episodes of the acclaimed astronaut drama and the “Currahee” episode of the pay-cable war epic.
While I liked “That Thing You Do,” Hanks’ TV work – and his many interviews over the years – always suggested to me he could do loads better. Count me very excited about “Larry Crowne.”
Find Variety’s story on the matter here.
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