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.
Wasn’t Rogers a Christian minister? Whoa, that won’t go over well with the lefty commies
I have never EVER sen a Steep movie in 20 plus years. Im a guy. I saw a scene of Kramer vs Kramer when my mom and my aunts were watching it on DVD when I was a kid but that was it..
Gonna require some massive historical revisionism.
Fred Rogers was far too heteronormative for Hollywood.
“For a girl will one day grow to be lady
And a boy will one day be a man.”
Can’t have THAT now, can we?
Is this make-believe world totally out of ideas for stories and escapism? Biopics, hollywood history and news articles are the absolute worst sources of material for movies.
Sorry to hear that, think they could do someone better than Hanks for this.. he’s a decent actor, but Mr Rodgers was an ordained minister.... would like to see someone a bit more friendly to the faith portraying him..
Hopefully the script won’t turn him into something he wasn’t just to create drama.
I’l take unbelievably boring movie topics for $200, Alex.
I can’t wait to see the part about him walking out of the surf with an M-60, gunning down a mass of his Vietcong neighbors, tossing incendiary grenades into hutches full of kids. Then he puts on his slippers and cardigan and walks back into the ocean, middle finger flying. ‘merica!!
Can hardly wait to see them reenact the interview with the bass player ... “Eggamuffin, yeah”.
When does the Captain Kangaroo biopic come out?
I'm personally waiting for the Barney the Dinosaur backstory.
Love it!!!
The way you describe it, Mr. Rogers turns you on.
Me, I got a thing for Barney the dinosaur.
LOL! Reminds me of the time I met (Chef) Don Brockett and he told me that he was having a sh*tty day!
“Also I think they have been trying to figure out a way to make him a woman but they had to give up.”
That didn’t bother KFC....
“Apollo 13” is also very good.
“Houston, we have a box of chocolates.”
Surely this can’t be meant for movie theaters. Who would pay to see a biography of a children’s show host?
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