Tom Hanks (‘Sully,’ ‘The Post,’ ‘A Hologram for the King’) has closed a deal to play America’s beloved TV icon Mister Rogers in ‘You Are My Friend,’ with ‘Diary of A Teenage Girl’ helmer Marielle Heller behind the camera.
Based on the Black List script by ‘Transparent’ writing duo Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, the film is inspired by “a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod. In the story, a cynical journalist begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved icon and finds his perspective on life transformed.”
Big Beach’s Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf are attached to produce, alongside Youree Henley. Leah Holzer over at Big Beach will serve as executive producer with Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster.