Tom Hanks is reportedly set to star in Theo of Golden, a Warner Bros. film adaptation of Allen Levi’s bestselling novel.
The film is based on Levi’s 2023 self-published novel, which gradually built a readership before attracting major publishing interest. Simon & Schuster later acquired the book for publication. According to Deadline, Warner Bros. is now close to finalising a deal for the adaptation.
Hanks is expected to play Theo and serve as an executive producer. Levi, Gil Netter, Gary Goetzman, Jesse Ehrman and Sheila Walcott are also attached to the project.
Set in the fictional town of Golden, the story follows Theo, a mysterious newcomer who arrives in town and begins buying pencil portraits of local people displayed in a coffee shop. Rather than keeping the drawings, he seeks out the people in them and returns the portraits.
Through these encounters, Theo discovers their stories, relationships and struggles. The meetings gradually become part of his own journey and help him confront a painful tragedy from his past.
Hanks has previously starred in several adaptations of popular books, including Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, Catch Me If You Can, News of the World, The Polar Express, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons and Inferno.
Hanks and Goetzman are also developing other projects. They recently completed Greyhound 2, directed by Aaron Schneider, and are working on The Comebacker, directed by Marielle Heller.
