Photo: Sony Pictures
It’s just a beautiful day in the neighborhood as Tom Hanks steps out of his trailer in signature Mister Rogers fashion (red cardigan and all) on set of the upcoming film about the beloved children’s TV host.
The untitled film, tentatively called You Are My Friend, is based on the true story of the friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod while profiling the iconic host for Esquire in 1998. According the film’s official logline, “Junod, a jaded magazine writer (Matthew Rhys) writes a profile of Rogers and in doing so overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.” TriStar Pictures described the film as a heartwarming tale in which a “cynical journalist begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved icon and finds his perspective on life transformed.”
Director Marielle Heller previously revealed the film was not a biopic. Heller told Entertainment Weekly, “I disliked that when it got announced it was characterized as [a biopic]. It’s really not. It’s a movie that’s largely focused on a reporter and [Mr. Rogers’] relationship to his life, and how [the reporter’s] whole world changes when coming in contact with Fred Rogers.”
On Thursday, Sony Pictures released the first photo of Hanks as Rogers, sporting a classic red sweater, button-up shirt and tie, khakis, blue sneakers, and his hair dyed gray. The tweet is captioned, “Tom Hanks is Mister Rogers, coming to a neighborhood near your October 2019.”
Tom Hanks is Mister Rogers, coming to a neighborhood near you October 2019. pic.twitter.com/2TP3eiPUCx
— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) September 27, 2018
This photo is exactly what we need this Friday to make the day a little brighter, don’t you think?
