Tom Hanks has been one of the most celebrated actors in the industry, with his performances in numerous acclaimed films like Forrest Gump and Cast Away. However, his career took a turn for good in the 1990s, when he earned acclaim for his movies like A League of Their Own and Sleepless in Seattle.
The latter was a huge blockbuster and is still considered to be one of the most successful romantic comedy films of all time, marking the beginning of Hanks’ modern era of filmmaking. However, that might not have happened, as the filmmakers initially considered Dennis Quaid to star alongside his ex-wife.
Tom Hanks Almost Lost His Sleepless in Seattle Role to Dennis Quaid
Director Nora Ephron initially set her sights on casting Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in the 1993 romantic comedy. However, the script and storyline underwent changes with various directors and actors involved during that period.
After producer Gary Foster got TriStar Pictures interested in the project, there were talks about Dennis Quaid taking on the lead role alongside his then-wife, Meg Ryan. The former chairman of TriStar, Mike Medavoy, was reportedly close to the couple.
And he knew they were eager to collaborate on a project together. When the opportunity arose with Sleepless in Seattle, the former couple was instantly on board, prompting the search for a director.
Nora Ephron, known for her work on When Harry Met Sally…, was initially hired to rewrite the script but later assumed the role of director. While she had no issues with Ryan as Annie Reed, she had doubts about Dennis Quaid’s suitability for the role of Sam.
The filmmaker reportedly didn’t find him funny enough for the character, a quality she believed Tom Hanks could effortlessly embody. While she eventually approached The Terminal actor for the movie, Ephron also found herself in a challenging conversation with Meg Ryan about the casting decision.
Nora Ephron Had to Convince Meg Ryan to Work Without Her Husband
Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan were originally attached to the project at TriStar Pictures from the outset. However, when Nora Ephron opted to cast Tom Hanks instead, she faced a challenging conversation with Ryan about changing the casting plans to exclude her husband.
The actress, who was pregnant at the time, reportedly grew unsure of starring in the movie. Despite this, Ephron eventually persuaded her to continue with the project. However, the issues were not resolved yet, as Tom Hanks also initially expressed disinterest in the script.
“I was an extremely cranky actor at that time,” the actor later admitted to Erin Carlson for her 2017 book I’ll Have What She’s Having. However, after reviewing Ephron’s revisions, he became drawn to the role, appreciating its deeper, more serious nature compared to his previous work.
“I had made enough movies to get smoked on a couple of occasions as well as thinking that I was a big shot and ‘My voice must be heard,” he reflected talking about his decisions regarding the movie. The film ultimately reunited Ryan and Hanks following their earlier collaboration on Joe Versus the Volcano.
Sleepless in Seattle is available to stream on Max.
