The generational talent of Tom Hanks is the kind that rears its head only once in a lifetime. The ability of the actor to adapt to the roles across varying genres and perfectly while at it not only makes Hanks one of the most versatile artists of the time but also one of the most enduring. The industry has witnessed its fair share of talent entering the scene or leaving behind a mark.
However, very few have touched upon every demography of their audience the way Tom Hanks has, be it the romantic at heart, war veterans, the LGBTQIA+ community, the history buffs, the children, the sci-fi enthusiasts, the athletes, true crime fanatics, and the adventure seekers.
John Leguizamo Regrets Turning Down Tom Hanks’ Film
The kind of regret that gnaws away at one’s soul and builds the kernel of guilt with every passing day usually stems from the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that one is so foolish as to throw away when presented with the possibilities. The John Wick actor, John Leguizamo has had a very close and personal experience with guilt and regret for three decades now after initially turning down a role in a Tom Hanks film where he was supposed to portray his lover.
Recalling the experience (or the lack thereof), Leguizamo said:
“I was supposed to be Tom Hanks’ lover. So I turned it down for Super Mario Brothers. And then of course they all won Oscars. And I won the ‘John How Could You Be So Stupid Award’ from my wife.”
The role that was initially offered to Leguizamo then went to Antonio Banderas despite Hanks personally requesting the former to reconsider before turning it down a second time. Instead, the 1993 adaptation of Super Mario Brothers became one in a line of many video game-to-movie adaptations to flop critically and commercially, earning backlash, no awards, and only $20.9 million against a budget of $48 million.
Tom Hanks Doesn’t Think He Could Star in Philadelphia Now
The 2 times Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks in a 2022 interview with The New York Times claimed that a film such as Philadelphia could not be made today in the same manner as it was approached in 1993 because of its central storyline that revolves around homosexuality. The increasing need for representation and authenticity on the screen has made it impossible for an actor of such depth and caliber as Hanks to pick up a role that the masses cannot identify him in.
“Let’s address ‘could a straight man do what I did in ‘Philadelphia’ now?’ No, and rightly so. The whole point of ‘Philadelphia’ was don’t be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is that I was playing a gay man. We’re beyond that now, and I don’t think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy.
It’s not a crime, it’s not boohoo, that someone would say we are going to demand more of a movie in the modern realm of authenticity.”
The Oscar-winning movie, Philadelphia, which premiered in 1993 was based on a true story and featured Tom Hanks as a homosexual man who sued his firm for wrongful termination after disclosing his HIV diagnosis. The film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards of which it won 2, including Best Actor in a Leading Role for Tom Hanks.
Source: Late Night With Seth Meyers
