Everything We Know about the Tom Hanks Mister Rogers Movie So Far
Photos by Lars Niki/Getty, Family Communications Inc./Getty
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Two generations of America’s Dads will collide in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, a film starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, the beloved host of children’s programming staple Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Here’s a look at everything we know about the film so far.
Development
In January, it was reported that Tom Hanks would star in a forthcoming Mr. Rogers biopic, then titled You Are My Friend. The Diary of a Teenage Girl and Can You Ever Forgive Me? director Marielle Heller helms, based on a screenplay by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster.
The film is inspired by Rogers’ real-life friendship with Tom Junod, who wrote a loving profile of Rogers in the November 1998 issue of Esquire, titled “Can You Say…Hero?” Lloyd (Matthew Rhys), a fictionalized version of Junod, is a cynical journalist who finds his perspective on life changed when he is assigned to write a piece on the beloved children’s television icon (Hanks).
Big Beach Films’ Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf (Loving) produce alongside Youree Henley (The Beguiled). Screenwriters Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster executive produce in addition to Big Beach’s Leah Holzer. Sony’s TriStar Pictures acquired worldwide rights from Big Beach, and has set the film for an October 2019 release.
Producers Turtletaub and Saraf shared the following statement at the time:
Now more than ever, we all need a re-introduction to Fred Rogers’ message of uncompromising love and kindness between all living things. [Marielle] Heller is the perfect visionary filmmaker to bring Noah [Harpster] and Micah [Fitzerman-Blue]’s script to life and because of her vision and this remarkable script, we have the quintessential actor to play Fred Rogers.
In September, Sony Pictures shared a first-look image showing Hanks in costume, wearing Mr. Rogers’ iconic red sweater.
Tom Hanks is Mister Rogers, coming to a neighborhood near you October 2019. pic.twitter.com/2TP3eiPUCx
— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) September 27, 2018