Two Time Academy Award Winner Tom Hanks has one of the best film careers in Hollywood with some of the best films of all time. Films like Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Big, Sleepless in Seattle, and Saving Private Ryan are examples of Hanks’ versatility as an actor and why he is revered in the industry as one of the greatest. He and director Steven Spielberg have worked on many films together including Saving Private Ryan, The Terminal, Bridge of Spies, and The Post.
One of their most recognized and acclaimed collaborations was in the biographical crime film Catch Me If You Can in 2002. The film united the duo along with then-rising star and heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio. The film which chronicles the cat-and-mouse chase between DiCaprio’s Frank Abagnale and Hanks’ Carl Hanratty was a delight for audiences to witness and became a box office success. But not many people know that Hanks was not originally part of the film. Spielberg revealed an interesting anecdote about how Hanks got involved in the film.
Tom Hanks Requested Steven Spielberg to Put Him in the Film
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg reunited after Saving Private Ryan for Catch Me If You Can in 2002. The film had Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead star playing real-life con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. who stole millions of dollars by pursuing various professions of opportunity. Hanks played the FBI agent who is assigned to hunt him down. Originally, Hanks was not a part of the film, so he requested to be put in it after reading the script. Spielberg told Roger Ebert,
“No, Tom had read the script as a writing sample and called me and Walter Parkes, the co-producer, and said “Can I be in this movie? Do you think Steven would let me play the FBI agent? I really know who this guy is.” And then Tom called me and he said, “Can I kinda horn in here?” And I said, my God, what do you mean horn in?
Then he called Leo and said, “Is it an imposition for me to be this movie which is clearly your film? You’re carrying it. Would it be an imposition upon you if I played the FBI agent?” Leo thought that heaven had just come down to earth for him. So in a sense, Tom invited himself into the project in such a humble, beautiful way.”
His inclusion in the film provided a real star power to the film. It was also a rare instance where DiCaprio and Hanks ever worked together on a film. The chemistry and the back-and-forth banter between the two stars were such a treat to witness that it gave the film a life of its own and helped it in becoming a cult classic.
Frank Abagnale Jr. Was Flattered Seeing Leonardo DiCaprio’s Portrayal of Him
Catch Me if You Can had Leonardo DiCaprio playing real-life conman Frank Abagnale Jr. His various cons and illegal pursuits were laid out in the film, and Abagnale himself was humbled to see such a big star like DiCaprio portray him on screen. He told Metro,
“About $2 million was recovered because, being so young, I had no way of spending what today would be about $20 million. I spent about $500,000, which I paid back about 20 years ago, so no one is out of pocket because of the crimes I committed. People would say to me: ‘Why didn’t you invest it in the stock market?’ Well, because I was 16 years old, I didn’t know how to. It’s quite flattering to have Leonardo DiCaprio play you in the movie. He’s a great-looking young man. I have three sons so when I mentioned Leo they weren’t very excited. But when they saw the movie, they all agreed he did an incredible job of portraying me”
DiCaprio must have had a fun time playing such an interesting character like Abagnale Jr who has many shades to him. Abagnale Jr. now helps the FBI in catching criminals who commit similar crimes like the ones he did including fraudsters, conmen, and embezzlers.
Catch Me If You Can can be streamed on fuboTV, Paramount+, and Showtime.
Sources: Roger Ebert, Metro
