Tom Hanks An American Idiot

Editorial

Based on Green Day's 2004 album of the same name, the musical follows the lives of three small-town buddies who have to learn to cope when one of them joins the army, another moves to the city, and one stays home and gets his girlfriend pregnant. Although the musical is yet to make its big Broadway splash The Playtone Company (founded by Hanks and producer Gary Goetzman) has been following the progression of the musical closely, and talks have already begun between the Green Day boys, Hanks and the musical's director, Michael Mayer.

Although Mayer is excited about the concept of a film adaptation, he wants to take it one step at a time. "We just want to do our show, open it on Broadway, have that experience and then explore those options", Mayer said to Rolling Stone. "Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman at Playtone are fabulous and they're friends of ours ... they've had access [to the musical] and it's been great to hear their enthusiasm [for the movie project]."

Along with reports of Hanks being the potential film's director, it's also rumoured Julia Roberts may take one of the lead female roles ... although getting our heads around Roberts sporting a mohawk while singing along to Green Day is somewhat problematic.

Lauren Bruce, April 2010

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