Tom Hanks, the beloved Hollywood actor, has recently voiced his support for Idris Elba to take on the role of the iconic British spy, James Bond. In a recent interview with BBC News, Hanks expressed his admiration for Elba’s impressive acting skills, stating that he would have no hesitation in granting him the coveted license to kill based on his body of work alone.
Hanks was speaking to BBC News to promote his debut novel, “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece.” The book chronicles the making of a big-budget Hollywood superhero movie, spanning 80 years of American history and featuring a cast of complex characters. These include a troubled soldier returning from war, a young boy with an artistic gift, an inspired and eccentric director, a pompous film star on the rise, a tireless production assistant, and various members of the film crew.
During the interview, Hanks also shared his thoughts on the trend of publishing houses editing classic novels to make them more suitable for contemporary times. He firmly believes that as adults, we should have faith in our own sensibilities and not rely on others to decide what may or may not offend us. Hanks passionately stated that he would be opposed to reading any book from any era that has been abridged due to modern sensitivities.
Hanks further elaborated on the character of the pompous film star featured in his novel, explaining that he had drawn from his own experiences to bring this character to life. He revealed that not everyone is at their best every day on a movie set, and he has had his fair share of tough days trying to be a professional while dealing with personal struggles. Hanks empathized with the character’s plight, stating that he could relate to the pressure of having to appear funny, charming, and loving despite feeling the opposite.
“I’m of the opinion that we’re all grown-ups here. Let’s have faith in our own sensibilities as opposed to having somebody decide what we may or may not be offended by,” Hanks said. “Let me decide what I am offended by and what I’m not offended by. I would be against reading any book from any era that says ‘abridged due to modern sensitivities.’”
Regarding the character of the pompous film star in the novel, Hanks said: “I have pulled every single one of those moments of behavior myself on a set. Not everybody is at their best every single day on a motion picture set. I’ve had tough days trying to be a professional when my life has been falling apart in more ways than one and the requirement for me that day is to be funny, charming and loving – and it’s the last way I feel.”
“The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece” was released on May 9 and offers readers an inside look into the behind-the-scenes of a Hollywood blockbuster production. Hanks’ insightful and entertaining storytelling provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of filmmaking, while also exploring themes of creativity, resilience, and the human spirit. Hanks is also associated with many big stars and that includes Paul McCartney and was even photographed together earlier this year.
