Tom Hanks may star as WW2 CO of destroyer in "Greyhound" movie

[CougarKing]

Given his performance as Ranger Captain Miller in "Saving Private Ryan", or even merchant mariner "Captain Philips" shouldn't he be well-suited to this role?

Variety

Tom Hanks Writing, May Star in World War II Drama ‘Greyhound’
Film Reporter
Dave McNary

September 9, 2016 | 06:10PM PT

Tom Hanks is developing World War II drama “Greyhound” with “Get Low” director Aaron Schneider.

Hanks has written the script with an eye to star. Gary Goetzman, Hanks’ longtime producing partner at Playtone Pictures, is the producer.

Hanks would be portraying a career officer given command of a Navy destroyer — named “Greyhound” — who has to deal with combat enemies and his own self doubts.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[jollyjacktar]

Yes, I'd watch that.  Maybe a naval "Fury" for quality of production.

 

[Lightguns]

Yup, I love WW2 war movies.  It will never match "Cruel Sea" but why not!

 

[jollyjacktar]

There's no reason it might not become a classic in it's own right.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

A remake of The Enemy Below, or more like In Which We Serve, US version?

 

[Lightguns]

Especially the wartime flag-wavers.

The Sullivans ( 1944 )

"Which one"

"All five."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGX3KjIv6HE
3:50

Pride of the Marines ( 1945 )

“You know, I bet it would be more fun shooting Japs than bears."

Yup them, and Gung Ho, Task Force, Dolittle Raid

But also the foreign movies like Finland's "Winter War" for it's use of all period accurate equipment including T26 Soviet tanks and Poland's "1939" for showing their national heroes as fallible and again great use of accurate period equipment. 

 

[mariomike]

Yup, I love WW2 war movies. 

Especially the wartime flag-wavers.

The Sullivans ( 1944 )

"Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, I'm afraid I'm bringing you very bad news."

"Which one"

"All five."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGX3KjIv6HE
3:50

Pride of the Marines ( 1945 )

“You know, I bet it would be more fun shooting Japs than bears."
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0447699/quotes

There’ll be nothing left but vultures
To inhabit all that land
When our modern ships and bombers
Make a graveyard of Japan

Smoke on the Water ( 1945 )

They'll never make movies like that again. ( Probably a good thing too!  )

I liked this story about the actor David Niven,

About to lead his men into action, Niven eased their nervousness by telling them, "Look, you chaps only have to do this once. But I'll have to do it all over again in Hollywood with Errol Flynn!"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Niven#Second_World_War

 

[gryphonv]

I'd rather see Tom Hanks play Ferdinand "Waldo" Demara. Could be the next 'Catch Me If You Can' type movie.

Though unfortunately it would probably be ruined as a 'remake' of the original.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I just hope its better than the latest Navy(ish) movies.  Battleship, Pearl Harbour and U571 come to mind.

While I love our American cousins I tire of hearing how they alone fought Nazi's, Japanese and the Aliens

 

[cupper]

That will now make him a land, sea, air and space quadruple threat.

And if the ship gets sunk, it will fit nicely with the current internet meme of why you should not travel with Tom Hanks. ;D

http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/celebrity-travel/never-travel-with-tom-hanks

 

[Blackadder1916]

Okay, I'm going to put on my curmudgeon hat for a moment.

Tom Hanks is a brilliant actor and a reasonably attractive and fit man (for a 60 year old).  Not that there is anything wrong with sexagenarians (I'm one myself).  He could probably get away with playing a character in his forties which would be a likely age for an average career naval Commander in WW2.

Oh, by the way, this is what the USS Greyhound looked like in 1943.

 

[CougarKing]

That will now make him a land, sea, air and space quadruple threat.

And if the ship gets sunk, it will fit nicely with the current internet meme of why you should not travel with Tom Hanks. ;D

http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/celebrity-travel/never-travel-with-tom-hanks

So will his XO be a volleyball named Wilson?  ;D ("Castaway" reference for those who haven't seen it)

 

[Lightguns]

Okay, I'm going to put on my curmudgeon hat for a moment.

Tom Hanks is a brilliant actor and a reasonably attractive and fit man (for a 60 year old).  Not that there is anything wrong with sexagenarians (I'm one myself).  He could probably get away with playing a character in his forties which would be a likely age for an average career naval Commander in WW2.

Oh, by the way, this is what the USS Greyhound looked like in 1943.

Yeah I think they chose that name because the WW2 nickname of "Greyhounds of seas".  Likely the movie will be a collage of short stories from WW2 "tin can" sailors. 

 

[CougarKing]

Oh, by the way, this is what the USS Greyhound looked like in 1943.

That's just it- the only USS Greyhound that served during WW2 was a transport/auxiliary.

Even though the article doesn't say the character's nationality, should we automatically assume this destroyer CO was American?

There was an RN destroyer HMS Greyhound in WW2 which had a notable career fighting in Norway, Dunkirk, Dakar and the Mediterranean.

Hanks is capable of playing a British destroyer skipper... or maybe he's cast as a destroyer squadron/flotilla commander instead because of his age?  :dunno:

 

[jollyjacktar]

Concur, it certainly couldn't be about USS Greyhound, she couldn't catch a cold nevermind a sub.

 

[George Wallace]

A movie to glorify being a "Barrack Warden"?

 

[kratz]

A movie to glorify being a "Barrack Warden"?

Is that the modern derogatory for stone frigate CO's ?  [

 

[jollyjacktar]

Well, he could be fighting to find enough bunks for all the transients, that would make for a gripping war movie. 

 

[George Wallace]

This report has him going in as a Destroyer Captain:

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/tom-hanks-star-destroyer-captain-new-wwii-movie.html

 

[dimsum]

Trailer is out.  Movie comes out on June 12.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyzxu26-Wqk&fbclid=IwAR3NpV_w1XtiHnTCumldGCxGSjwmj7_S6JnCxC3lkq6XMyYTWxZTOR9-iP0