(Credits: Far Out / Raph Pour-Hashemi)
The list of high-quality films that Tom Hanks is attached to is seemingly countless. Throughout his career, Hanks has demonstrated an unbridled charm and fearless commitment to the craft of acting that has led to some of the most memorable performances in recent cinematic history.
Whether capturing the candid innocence of Forrest Gump or the desperation of a lawyer with AIDS in Philadelphiawhether it is about embodying the fate of the Second World War in Saving Private Ryan or the courage of Chesley Sullenberger in DefileHanks has always proven his performative quality.
Simply put, many of Hanks’ films include some of our favorite films in contemporary cinema, and Hanks himself is no stranger to a deep passion for the medium, as any actor worth his salt should. There’s one movie franchise in particular that Hanks also seems to have a deep love for.
In an interview with the BBC, Hanks was asked about his interest in the James Bond film series. “Who doesn’t love James Bond?” » he simply replied, emphasizing the wide reach of the famous British spy film franchise across the world. The actor then mentioned the first Bond film he ever saw and gave a truly incredible statement of his impression.
“I remember the first James Bond film I saw was You only live twice“, Hanks said, “which was hands down the greatest, most spectacular movie I’ve ever seen.” In fact, Hanks loved the 1967 spy classic so much that he watched it six more times, showing the obvious love he has for Sean Connery’s beloved version of 007. “You have to have a James Bond movie every two years,” he added. .
Directed by Lewis Gilbert, You only live twice is the fifth film in the Bond film series. Released at the height of the Cold War, the film manages to explore the ongoing tensions between East and West, with most of the action taking place in Japan, as Bond traverses ancient tradition and a modern urban environment.
Sean Connery continued to deliver his ultra-suave version of James Bond, the portrayal that will epitomize the character for decades to come. At the heart of the film’s antagonism is iconic villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, played excellently by Donald Pleasance, while Bond has also been joined by a new ally, in the form of Tetsuro Tamba’s Tiger Tanaka.
Given that Hanks loves James Bond so much, you’d think he would have been at least vaguely interested in playing the iconic spy character. However, it seems that if the actor were to take a role in a Bond film, it wouldn’t actually be the hero he would want to play.
Hanks is reportedly interested in playing CIA agent and Bond friend Felix Leiter, who was recently played by Jeffrey Wright. Hanks explained: “I’d like to be that American CIA agent who comes up in a little putt-putt boat and says, ‘Hi James!’ And James says, “Well, Felix Leiter of the CIA!” This is what I would like to be.
Check out the trailer for one of Tom Hanks’ favorite films of all time below.
