"Can you say 'Scum Bucket'.....I knew you could."
Posted on 01/29/2018 11:35:59 AM PST by EdnaMode
TriStar Pictures has landed worldwide distribution rights to the Mr. Rogers biopic “You Are My Friend,” with Tom Hanks attached to play the iconic TV personality.
“Diary of a Teenage Girl” director Marielle Heller is helming the pic from a script by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster.
“I’m thrilled to be making ‘You Are My Friend,'” Heller said. “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.”
The film is inspired by a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod. In the story, a cynical journalist begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved icon and finds his perspective on life transformed.
“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,” said Hannah Minghella, president of TriStar Pictures.
Big Beach Films is producing with Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf producing for the company alongside Youree Henley (“The Beguiled”). Leah Holzer of Big Beach will executive produce, along with Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster. The project originated from a true story developed by Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster, first appearing on the Black List in 2013.
“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,” said Turtletaub and Saraf.
Minghella and Shary Shirazi will oversee the project for TriStar Pictures. Production is set to begin in the fall.
Hanks is hardly a stranger to playing real-life personalities. In last year’s “The Post,” which was recently nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards, he played Washington Post editor-in-chief Ben Bradlee. It’s currently unknown when this film would start production, as Hanks has a handful of films expected to shoot this year, including Sony’s World War II movie “Greyhound,” which Hanks wrote as well as stars in.
Hanks is also attached to star in the Amblin film “Bios,” which is produced by Robert Zemeckis with Miguel Sapochnik directing. Hanks is repped by CAA.
Heller is represented by UTA and Ziffren Law Firm. Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster are represented by UTA and managed by Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment and James Feldman at Lichter, Grossman Law Firm. Junod is represented by Lucy Stille of APA and David Black of the David Black Agency.
Will they add in some kind of out-of-the-blue transgender angle? Because it would be sexist not to.
I’m thinking that they should wait awhile to see if “Won’t you be my neighbor” has some #metoo implications.
Simple Jack goes full again!
““I’m thrilled to be making ‘You Are My Friend,’” Heller said. “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”
But dads... not so much ?
Also I think they have been trying to figure out a way to make him a woman but they had to give up. This has that sort of “defeat” about it that they had to feature a man doing things that a man did.
I hate Tom Hanks after he was so rude about our president.
When I think of Mr. Rogers, I think of his swimming episode. Yowsa.
When I was a child I did not like him. Even though I was shy, I felt he was too into scared shyness. He was always trying to make kids scared of everything feel comfortable. It was over the top. I chose not to watch when it was on our tv.
But of course sometimes it was on (in reruns I guess) when I started having kids. I remember one time I was in the kitchen and son was in the family room watching, and Mr. Rogers took the camera into his shower with him. There he was topless under the water. Ohhhh kayyyyy, where is he going with this?? Then he takes his cameraman with him into the pool at the YMCA. Dives in, and the underwater camera pans lovingly up and down his fit body in his tight speedo suit. I remember leaving the kitchen to come get a closer look. Why do these kids need to see what is basically their friend Mr Rogers naked in a pool, muscles glistening???
I know he did a great lady voice and cat voice and all, but do the kids need to see a camera slide up every contour of his toned body?
Tom Hanks; pretty good actor, clueless lefty.
Decades ago, I liked him. Not these days. Chalking this movie up to another that won’t be getting my $$$.
"Can you say 'Scum Bucket'.....I knew you could."
There’s a movie my family and I will not be watching in Theaters.
Are they going to cover Fred's sniper experience in 'Nam?
</fake news>
As long as they remain true to Fred Rogers it might actually be OK.
But, being Hollywood, Fred will be secretly a homosexual and exploring his inner tranny, while also hiding his secret life as a heroin addict.
Since Fred Rogers was an ordained minister, He’ll certainly have a crisis of faith and be a closeted atheist too.
Oh, child molester. Forgot that one.
But I stand by our potus on these losers. No movie is good enough to support after those slaps in the face they sent to Trump.
Same for that witch of all time, Meryl.
With Dame Judy Dench as Lady Elaine. Michael Keaton can play himself.
The only Hanks movie I’ll watch now is “Bachelor Party”.
Sooo glad I missed that one! Yeesh!
Wasn’t he an Army SEAL Force Recon fighter pilot awarded 3 Medals of Honor in the Spanish-American War?
“As long as they remain true to Fred Rogers it might actually be OK.”
- - - - - - - - - - -
Same here. Fred Rogers was a man who really walked the talk. I have true respect for him.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.