In addition to producing it for Universal, Hanks eyes a role in the film feature version of Erik Larson's non-fiction novel which offers the real life accounts of a U.S. Ambassador to Berlin in 1933.
- Nov 29, 2011
AceShowbiz - Tom Hanks is developing a new World War II-themed movie. It is reported that the "Larry Crowne" director is going to adapt Erik Larson's best-selling novel "In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin" into a film for Universal.
The non-fiction book chronicles the real life of William Dodd, the U.S. Ambassador to Berlin in 1933, which was Hitler's first year in power. As that first year unfolds and the shadows deepen, Dodd and his family experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance - and ultimately, horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler's true character and ruthless ambition.
Hanks, who recently executive produced "The Pacific" miniseries, and Gary Goetzman will produce "In the Garden of Beasts" via their Playtone banner. The "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" actor is reportedly also eying the project as a potential starring vehicle.
Larson's other non-fiction book, "The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America", is currently also in development by Leonardo DiCaprio via his Appian Way production company.
