Tom Hanks at an event.
Seven years after their Oscar-nominated collaboration, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Hanks is reuniting with Marielle Heller for a new baseball dramedy that's already gaining traction. According Variety, The Comebacker, an adaptation of a Dave Eggers short story, has reportedly sparked a multi-studio bidding war, with Sony Pictures currently leading the pack.
And though Focus is also reportedly in the running, it would be surprising if Sony doesn't win the bid, given Hanks and Heller's collaboration with the studio on the beloved Mr. Rogers biographical drama. Hanks is set to star, with Heller directing, and both will also produce through their respective banners. The film also marks another collaboration between Hanks and Eggers, whose works A Hologram for the King and The Circle were previously adapted into films starring the actor. The story is the first in a series of shorts by Eggers for a story collection titled The Forgetters, which follows Lionel, a struggling sports journalist whose passion is reignited by a minor league pitcher with a mysterious past. After suffering a traumatic on-field head injury, the pitcher begins exhibiting unexpected behavior, delivering poetic speeches that help give new life to the journalist's work and delight readers nationwide. While the original short story centers on the San Francisco Giants, the film adaptation is expected to shift its focus to the New York Mets. The project also has some big names hoping to join the cast, with Variety reporting that Bad Bunny and Oscar nominee Colman Domingo are circling roles, though neither has officially signed on. Details on their potential characters remain under wraps, and production timing is still unclear. As of now, Bad Bunny is continuing his global tour through the end of July, and though it isn't an indication of their partnership, Hanks did make an appearance at the"Tití Me Preguntó" rapper's show in Australia back in February, where he has been working on Greyhound 2. Should Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, sign on to the project, it would mark a next step in landing more prominent screen work for the musician. In addition to appearing in Bullet Train and Cassandro, and taking on roles in Happy Gilmore 2 and Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, the global superstar is also pegged to star in his first leading role, Porto Rico, a historical drama about a Puerto Rican revolutionary. As for Domingo, who, per Variety, is currently at the "interested" stage, his recent roles include The Running Man, as well as Netflix's Four Seasons, and Wicked: For Good. Domingo will also be starring in the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, and is set to write, direct, and star in a new musical biopic titled Unforgettable about the legendary singer Nat King Cole. Hanks has also been doubly busy, with a highly anticipated return as the voice of Woody in the animated sequel Toy Story 5, hitting theaters in June, and a casting as Abraham Lincoln in the film Lincoln in the Bardo, based on George Saunders' 2017 novel. Subscribe to our newsletter for film scoops on Hanks' new project Want deeper context on projects like this Hanks baseball dramedy? Subscribe to our newsletter for curated film analysis, casting insights, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on movies and industry stories you care about. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. A release date for The Comebacker has not yet been set.
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