OH MY GOD! Tom Hanks To Play Mr. Rogers In Upcoming Biopic!

Variety- 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.

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.

Tommy’s gonna fuck around and win an Oscar wearing a silly looking sweater over a shirt and tie, isn’t he? I didn’t even know I needed this ’til I got it. Most likable actor of all time playing the most likable TV personality of all time? COME ON! The concept for this movie, the apparent true story of journalist Tom Junod being pissed that he has to write a profile on Mr. Rogers before Mr.Rogers changes his life for the better through his positivity and ideals, sounds like complete and total award-bait, sure, but I’m there for it. So there for it. They could make it as gimmick-y as possible and just have it be a two hour one-shot and I’d be there for it. I mean, they could actually do that as it’ll probably take place mostly in one location, right? We should be getting a conversation and that’s it? Can’t imagine Mr. Rogers was on any Mad Max-esque car chases through the desert in his later years. I suppose they could try to replicate the ‘Citizen Kane’ formula with flashbacks, Hanks bookending the movie, but if I had to guess, we’re gonna get the friendly neighborhood version of ‘Clerks’ here, and I can’t wait. No doubt this one is gonna be a tearjerker. See y’all in November when this’ll probably come out.

P.S. If they really wanted to Oscar-bait this one they’d recast Tom Junod as a woman and make that woman Meryl Streep.