America’s Sweetheart Tom Hanks Is Playing a Villain Next — to Prove That He Can
By Matt Donnelly
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Tom Hanks is saying no more Mr. Nice Guy.
The prolific actor teased press backstage at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, saying he’s tired of “stupid questions” from press about why he almost exclusively plays heroes, sweethearts or quirky everyman types.
Hanks, in fact, is about to play a bad guy for Baz Luhrmann and thrilled for the opportunity to prove he can flex those muscles.
“My current plan is, I’m about to go to Australia to work with Baz Luhrmann,” Hanks said, adding his thoughts were with victims and volunteers caught in devastating brush fires. The actor will star opposite Austin Butler in Luhrmann’s forthcoming Elvis biopic, playing the icon’s shifty talent manager.
“The plan is, I’m playing Colonel Tom Parker, and silence all your stupid questions about why will I never play a bad guy,” Hanks joked. Though Hanks said this would be his first villainous role, his little-seen tech thriller “The Circle” saw him as an evil, cultish CEO.
Hanks went on to talk about his philosophy on likability, which has powered the actors through decades of top performances, which he cultivated from, of all people, Keanu Reeves.