Movies & TV / News

Tom Hanks Set To Play Mr. Rogers In Biopic

January 30, 2018 | Posted by Joseph Lee

Coming Soon reports that Tom Hanks is set to play Fred Rogers in the biopic You Are My Friend, which has been picked up by TriStar Pictures. It’s produced by Big Beach’s Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf, along with Youree Henley. Marielle Heller will direct from a script by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster (Transparent, Beautiful Ruins). Big Beach’s Leah Holzer will executive produce with Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster. It was developed by Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster, appearing on the Black List in 2013. The film is inspired by the friendship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. The film’s story follows a “cynical journalist” who “begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved icon and finds his perspective on life transformed.”

TriStar Pictures president Hannah Minghella said: “This is the perfect alchemy of talent coming together at the perfect time to remind us all of the transformative power of kindness and respect to heal and to unite. We are proud to partner with Marielle, Tom and everyone at Big Beach to bring this inspirational true story to audiences all over the world.

Turtletaub and Saraf added: “Now more than ever, we all need a re-introduction to Fred Rogers’ message of uncompromising love and kindness between all living things. Mari Heller is the perfect visionary filmmaker to bring Noah and Micah’s script to life and because of her vision and this remarkable script, we have the quintessential actor to play Fred Rogers.

Director Marielle Heller said: “I’m thrilled to be making You Are My Friend. The script knocked me out with its message of kindness and its exploration of the human spirit. As a mother, I am so inspired by the teachings of Fred Rogers and as a human I am in awe of his life’s work. I can’t wait to bring his story to the public and be a part of such a thoughtful, smart group of people who are all coming together to make this film, which truly feels to me like an antidote to our very fractured culture.

Hannah Minghella and Shary Shirazi will oversee for TriStar, with production starting this fall.