Tom Hanks in Talks to Star in Theo of Golden

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Tom Hanks could star in and produce the adaptation of Theo of Golden, a novel that has sold more than 3.5 million copies in the United States.

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Tom Hanks is in advanced negotiations to star in and produce the film adaptation of Theo of Golden, a novel by Allen Levi. The deal with Warner Bros. is still being finalized, but it would see Hanks play the title character.

The film will be produced by Gil Netter, Gary Goetzman and Hanks through their production company, Playtone. Netter is known for films such as Marley & Me and Life of Pi. Allen Levi will serve as an executive producer, while Jesse Ehrman and Sheila Walcott will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. Warner Bros. credits literary executive Ian Dalrymple with discovering the book.

Set in the fictional town of Golden, the story follows Theo, a mysterious man who arrives in town and buys pencil portraits of local residents displayed in a café. He then personally returns the drawings to each person depicted. These visits uncover life-changing stories, reshape relationships and force Theo to confront a tragedy from his own past.

The novel's journey began independently. Allen Levi self-published Theo of Golden in 2023 after leaving his career as a lawyer to make a living from music on an island in Georgia. He made his literary debut in his late 60s.

The book gained popularity through word of mouth, with support from his niece, Aron Ritchie. It drew attention after Oprah Winfrey mentioned it on her podcast and was later published commercially by Simon & Schuster.

The book has already sold more than 3.5 million copies in the United States, been published in 43 languages and topped the bestseller lists in the United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands. The adaptation does not yet have a release date.