Tom Hanks Sets ‘Masters of the Air’ Follow-up for Apple TV

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As a seasoned cinephile with decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that Tom Hanks has always been a reliable staple in the industry. From “Forrest Gump” to “Cast Away,” his performances have left an indelible mark on cinema history. However, this year seems to have taken a turn for the tumultuous in his career.

After the tremendous triumph of Apple TV’s “Masters of the Air“, Tom Hanks and his team have announced their next venture on the streaming platform, which is another adaptation. Launched earlier this year, “Masters of the Air” was inspired by the book of the same name by Donald L. Miller, and it was highly praised for its depiction of the 100th Bomb Group during World War II, winning critical acclaim across the board.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but share my excitement about a forthcoming project that has caught my attention – the adaptation of Elliot Ackerman’s novel “Sheepdogs,” set to be published in 2025 by Alfred K. Knopf/Penguin Random House. Intriguingly, Apple Studios have reportedly invested close to a million dollars for the rights to this compelling story. Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, known for their exceptional work, aim to recreate some of that enchanting magic with this adaptation through their banner, Playtone, which was instrumental in bringing “Masters of the Air” to the screen. As for Hanks’ potential involvement in the production akin to his role in 2020’s “Greyhound,” distributed by Apple TV, we’ll have to wait and see!

The storyline revolves around Skwerl and Cheese, former elite paramilitaries now in tough times, who take up a job to recover a jet stuck on an isolated African airfield. However, all is not as it appears, and when the ladies in their lives become involved—one being a pregnant spouse and the other a dominatrix—the risks escalate dramatically. This production appeals to us because while we enjoy WWII narratives, this one offers a contemporary setting and features an array of intriguing characters such as a quirky bomb expert, a reformed Amish explorer, and even a used car dealer who has been elected to Congress—what a fantastic mix!

Tom Hanks Hasn’t Had Much Luck This Year

Despite the fact that “Masters of the Air” was a hit for Apple TV, Tom Hanks hasn’t had much success in his other recent projects. For instance, “Freaky Tales,” which premiered at Sundance in January and featured Hanks in a small role as a video store employee, is yet to secure a definitive distributor. Lionsgate currently holds the distribution rights due to their acquisition of Entertainment One, but there are no known plans for a wide release as of now, leaving room for potential acquisition by another party. It’s rather puzzling, especially considering Pedro Pascal plays the lead in the film, and given his current popularity.

On the other hand, there was also “Here”, which had a broad release and featured Hanks alongside Robin Wright. Despite this, the ambitious, nonlinear drama failed spectacularly at the box office, managing only $13.4 million in earnings compared to a production budget of over $50 million. That’s quite a blow. The Robert Zemeckis film received harsh criticism from both critics and audiences for being disconnected from contemporary viewers, and its digital de-aging technology was not warmly received.

After his intense profanity on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast and considering his recent struggles, there’s a question about whether Tom Hanks can recover his former glory in Wes Anderson’s new espionage comedy-drama thriller, The Phoenician Scheme. Only time will tell, but for now, it might be best if he takes a step back and focuses on other aspects of production, as it seems his appeal may not be as strong as before.

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2024-12-19 23:01