Tom Hanks almost passed on the five Oscar-winning Saving Private Ryan because he cared way too much about his friendship with Steven Spielberg. Years later, he looks back with gratitude, realizing that he made the right decision by not acting on his initial thoughts. Despite the challenges and uncertainties he faced at the time, he is now glad it did not affect his friendship with the legendary director. So much so that he went on to a number of films after the 1998 movie was a hit.
The successful actor-director duo shares a deep-rooted history, and their mutual love for cinema, particularly American cinema, only strengthens their bond as time goes on. In a 1998 interview, the actor elaborated on the reasons behind his willingness to turn down the Spielberg war drama.
Why Tom Hanks Did Not Want to Work With Steven Spielberg?
Stepping foot on the sets of Forrest Gump was a daring move for the duo, well aware that it carried the potential to jeopardize their friendship forever. This apprehension nearly led the star Tom Hanks to decline the opportunity to work with Steven Spielberg, driven by genuine concern for their long-standing bond. The caution stemmed from past experiences, where Hanks had witnessed friendships being affected by the complexities of working together in the film industry. In an interview with Deseret News the actor stated,
“I’ve seen friendships that ended because of a bad moviemaking experience, and I was really reluctant to do it because of that,–Sometimes I’m just astounded that I know this great guy and that I’m friends with him. So it hasn’t been worth it to risk our friendship until now.”
Therefore, Spielberg had to make a conscious effort to hold back from uttering anything that could potentially rupture their year-long bond. He recognized the importance of preserving their friendship and was determined not to let any unintended words or actions jeopardize the strong connection they shared. While talking to Today, he shared,
“The first movie was fraught with, ‘I don’t want to say anything that Tom’s not going to like. I want to keep his friendship. I like this guy and his family. God, don’t let me do anything that’s going to screw that up,”’
The perceived difficult phase turned out to be only temporary. Nearly two decades have passed since the movie’s release, and the actor-director duo’s bond remains as robust as ever. Despite their initial concerns, they have withstood the test of time, proving that their friendship is more enduring and resilient than the most popular power couples in Hollywood.
Tom Hanks Convinced Other Actors to Stay in Saving Private Ryan
The grueling boot camp reportedly pushed the actors to their limits, to the extent that it became the breaking point for some of them. Tom Hanks, in his role as a leader, had to personally persuade each and every actor to place their trust in the process. He worked hard to instill confidence in them, assuring them that the intense training would ultimately contribute to the authenticity of their performances. While speaking to Buffalo News, the actor stated,
“I think the other guys were expecting more of a traditional actor rehearsal theory you know, where you walk around with your books and go, ‘You know, I don’t know if I should say that line right here.’ There was a day where everybody wanted to leave. We had quite a few discussions about why I didn’t think we should,”
Acknowledging the brilliance of his best friend’s vision, the actor came to a realization of how instrumental the Boot Camp was in elevating the performances of the actors on the big screen. All thanks to the visionary Spielberg.
Source: Buffalo News and Deseret News
