Tom Hanks has been chosen to play legendary television icon Fred Rogers in the biopic "You Are My Friend."
The project will be based on a true story written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster which first appeared on the Black List in 2013. It follows the unexpected real-life friendship between Mr. Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod.
The story will show how the all-around TV personality, musician and puppeteer was able to transform the life of the cynical journalist Junod who only begrudgingly accepted the task to interview Rogers for a profile piece.
Marielle Heller, who will helm "You Are My Friend," said she is "thrilled" for the opportunity to direct a biopic about who she personally admires. "The script knocked me out if its message of kindness and its exploration of the human spirit," she said in an official statement.
Tristar Pictures landed the worldwide distribution rights to the biopic, and its president, Hannah Minghella, could not be any prouder. "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 unite," she said about working with Heller, Hanks, and scriptwriters Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster.
Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf are producing the film for Big Beach Films alongside Youree Henley. In an official release, Turtletaub and Saraf said now is the perfect time to re-introduce Rogers' message of "uncompromising love and kindness."
Mister Rogers, who passed away in 1993 at the age of 74, was a household name for almost half of his life. From 1968 up to 2001, he hosted the iconic half-hour children's program "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" in PBS. The show was a great showcase of the Presbyterian minister's grandfatherly kindness toward kids.
The upcoming biopic, which is slated to start production in September, should solidify Hanks' status as America's dad, an image that he first depicted on "Saturday Night Live" in 2016 before the presidential election.
