HBO has ordered a six-hour miniseries about American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the network announced Friday.
Lewis and Clark is being produced by Tom Hanks, Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Tim Kelly and Adam Leipzig. The miniseries is based on the book Undaunted Courage by Stephen A. Ambrose.
“In Lewis and Clark, we can see American idealism and the breathtaking natural beauty of the continent, as well as the complexities and tragedies of what came to be known as America’s ‘manifest destiny,’” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. “We are tremendously excited to bring together this incredible group of talents to tell a seminal American story.”
HBO and National Geographic Studios are producing with Playtone, Plan B and Class 5. Norton, Michelle Ashford and John Curran are writing with Curran slated to direct. Casey Affleck will play Lewis and Matthias Schoenaerts will play Clark. [source]
News: Tom Hanks to Produce New HBO Miniseries
Written by on February 11
News: Tom Hanks to Host “The Late Show” Tomorrow
Written by on February 11
Tom Hanks will replace Brian Williams on Thursday’s edition of “Late Show with David Letterman.” The last-minute guest had to be called in when Williams backed out of his scheduled appearance Sunday.
In some ways, the Hanks encounter should be equally fascinating: Hanks had been at the Rangers game with Williams when the newsman was honoring the veteran, Tim Terpak. It was during this game that Williams once again recounted the story that got him into so much hot water in the first place. (At the game, Hanks was also reunited with “Wilson.”) [source]
News: Tom to Host National Christmas Tree Lighting
Written by on November 27
Washington (CNN) — Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress and singer Rita Wilson, will co-host the National Christmas Tree lighting next week, the National Park Service announced Wednesday.
The event, which takes place at the White House Ellipse, will also feature performances by veteran singer Patti LaBelle, vocal group The Tenors, R&B star Ne-Yo, and Country singer Chely Wright.
Artist Steve Miller, pop group Fifth Harmony, and duo Nico & Vinz will also be on stage Dec. 4. This year’s lighting marks the 92nd year of the tradition, which was started under President Calvin Coolidge.
Hanks was a top donor and fundraiser for Obama’s presidential campaigns. [Source]
News: Tom Hanks is Publishing a Short Story Collection
Written by on November 04
Tom Hanks — yes, Oscar-winning movie star Tom Hanks — will publish a short story collection with Knopf, the publisher announced Monday. The book of short fiction is still untitled, and its release date has not yet been set.
One thing is known about the book: Its stories will be inspired by Hanks’ collection of typewriters.
In a release, Hanks said, “I’ve been collecting typewriters for no particular reason since 1978 – both manual and portable machines dating from the thirties to the nineties. The stories are not about the typewriters themselves, but rather, the stories are something that might have been written on one of them.”
Last month, Hanks published his first short story ever in no less than the New Yorker. “Alan Bean Plus Four” was said to be inspired by Hanks’ film and television work around the space program — “Apollo 13” and “From the Earth to the Moon” — and not a typewriter. (Maybe a typewriter too. We will see). [More at source]
News: Tom Hanks writes a Short Story For the New Yorker
Written by on October 24
