Tom Hanks to Play America's Neighbor Mr. Rogers in Biopic
Movie

The 'Post' actor will star as the late television personality in 'You Are My Friend' which will be directed by Marielle Heller ('The Diary of a Teenage Girl').

AceShowbiz - America's movie dad, Tom Hanks, is going to be your neighbor. The Oscar-winning actor has been tapped to portray late TV personality Fred Rogers, more commonly known as Mr. Rogers, in upcoming biopic "You Are My Friend".

"The Diary of a Teenage Girl" director Marielle Heller is on board to direct the pic from a script written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. The movie is inspired by a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod. The cynical journalist begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved icon and finds his perspective on life transformed.

"I'm thrilled to be making 'You Are My Friend'," Heller said in a statement to Variety. "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."

Junod tweeted about the movie, "It is finally happening, and in the best of ways: a movie, very loosely based on the article I wrote for @Esquire 20 years ago, with Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, two innovative screenwriters from 'Transparency' scripting, and Marielle Heller directing. Well-timed, for this moment."

Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf will produce via Big Beach Films alongside Youree Henley ("The Beguiled"). Leah Holzer of Big Beach will executive produce, along with Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster. Hannah Minghella and Shary Shirazi will oversee the project for TriStar.

"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," Turtletaub and Saraf added.

Rogers starred on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", one of the longest-running children's shows of all time. He became an empathetic icon of children’s education and entertainment, in addition to serving as a champion of public television funding. He died in 2003 at 74 years old. He became the subject of documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor?", which recently debuted at the Sundance Film Festival.

Hanks has played some real-life personalities in previous films, including as Walt Disney in "Saving Mr. Banks", as Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger in "Sully", as Captain Richard Phillips in "Captain Phillips", and as Ben Bradlee in "The Post". He won Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump", and was nominated for Golden Globe Award for his role in "The Post".

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