Tom Hanks in makeup and costume as Fred Rogers, the beloved children's television show host, appeared for the first time on Thursday, with the Oscar winner wearing the signature Mr. Rogers red sweater, along with a dress shirt and tie, tan slacks, and sneakers.
It was announced in January that Hanks would play Rogers in TriStar Pictures' biographical drama, with production starting in September. The film is based on the true story of the friendship between the "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" host and journalist Tom Junod. In the movie, Matthew Rhys ("The Americans") plays Junod, a jaded magazine writer who is reluctantly assigned to profile Rogers. He ends up being so moved by Rogers' kindness and empathy that he overcomes his skepticism and has a renewed look on life.
The movie is the second in recent months to focus on Rogers, with the hit documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" released in June.
Hanks' pic is directed by Marielle Heller ("The Diary of a Teenage Girl") from a script by Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue, and produced by Youree Henley, Marc Turtletaub, and Peter Saraf. Susan Kelechi Watson ("This Is Us") and Chris Cooper ("Live by Night") will star alongside Hanks and Rhys.
The film is expected to hit theaters Oct. 19, 2019.