Tom Hanks adds another title to his CV: novelist. The actor is releasing a first novel titled “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece” in 2023. It will be about the motion picture industry and the making of a “colossal, star-studded, superhero action flick.” multi-million dollar and the humble comic book that inspired it,” according to its official synopsis. Beginning in 1947 with the story of a soldier returning from war, it then focuses on the soldier’s nephew, who writes a comic strip about his uncle in 1970. From there it pivots to the present day, when a director adapts the comic. in a superhero movie.
In writing the book, Hanks drew directly from his own experiences in Hollywood. “Every character in the book does something that I experienced while making a movie, as well as discovered a philosophy or learned an important lesson,” Hanks told People. “Even the insane moments are some kind of hit I made or mistake I survived.”
Hanks adds that he will use his own knowledge of the film industry to paint a picture of how a major movie actually plays out. “Nobody knows how a movie is made – even if everyone thinks they do,” he says. “I’ve done a ton of movies (and four of them are pretty good I think) and I’m always amazed at how the movies come together. From the flicker of an idea to the shimmering image at the screen, the whole process is a miracle.”
Behind the miracle, of course, there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears. “Moviemaking is very hard work over a very long period of time that consists of so many moments of joy slapped against an equal number of feelings of self-loathing,” he explains to People. “It’s the greatest work in the world and the most confusing work I know of. I hope the book captures as much of the ‘accidental judgments and occasional slayings’ that go into a cinematic saying to hold ‘a mirror before nature’. ‘ that I’ve witnessed (and caused) since joining the Screen Actors Guild.”
Hanks, 66, who starred in “Elvis” last June, previously released a hit short story collection titled “Uncommon Type” in 2017. “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece” will be released on May 9, 2023.
A representative for Hanks did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR’s request for further comment.