Clint Eastwood’s three words transformed this role into a challenge for Tom Hanks, leading to one of his most remarkable works to date.
Tom Hanks has played a hero multiple times, whether in Captain Phillips or as Woody from Toy Story. Each time, he’s managed to bring something new and meaningful to the idea of being a hero. Thus, when Clint Eastwood approached Tom Hanks, proposing that he take on the role of Sully, the real-life hero who safely landed a plane on the Hudson River in 2009, Hanks found himself pausing before making a decision, in the 2016 film.
But then Eastwood hit him with just three words that sealed the deal. And that decision turned out to be a major highlight in Hanks’ already impressive career.
Clint Eastwood’s Three Words That Influenced Tom Hanks to Portray Sully
Before Sully, Tom Hanks had already portrayed heroes, or as he puts it “ordinary guys in extraordinary circumstances.” He had often felt typecasted. When Clint Eastwood offered him the role of Sully, the hero who safely landed a plane on the Hudson River in 2009, Hanks initially hesitated. In a New York Times interview, he discussed this reluctance, by stating,
“You want to be Sully?” I said to him, “I’ve sort of played that role before,” and he said, “Yeah, you have.” I took that as a challenge. “
Clint Eastwood’s “Yeah You Have” served as a much-needed reminder to Tom Hanks, prompting him to recognize the untapped potential of the character.
Despite prior reservations, Hanks viewed it as a challenge and an opportunity to breathe new life into the role. He explained this further stating,
“It’s like he was saying there’s still an unplumbed thing. Gary Cooper and Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis and Jimmy Stewart: They brought their countenance into every movie, and we were looking for some new turn of it. There’s no shiny object you wave at the audience to make them forget that countenance. So the biggest question you have to ask is: Is each new character’s behavior authentic to recognizable human behavior? “
He then proceeded to dive deep into his role in Greyhound, highlighting the nuances that set it apart despite its similarities to previous characters he’d portrayed, he stated,
” Let’s take “Greyhound”: Tom Hanks in a uniform? Jeez, we haven’t seen this enough. Me doing the right thing? Oh, that’s brand-new. All of that stuff is in that movie, but it’s through a filter of a character who is scared out of his head, and that’s different. It’s the same countenance and the same “Trust me, folks,” but the cost becomes palpable.”
Hence, he believes that no character is identical to another; each possesses its own unique set of flair. As an actor, it’s about identifying those subtle nuances that set them apart and make them memorable.
Sully Was Among Tom Hanks’ Most Exceptional Roles
In Sully, Tom Hanks takes on the role of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who heroically landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009 shortly after takeoff.
Beyond showcasing Sully’s remarkable feat, the film also digs deep into the intricate investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board in the aftermath of the emergency landing and gives the audience an intense courtroom drama as well.
Tom Hanks indeed proved to be the perfect choice for the role, seamlessly blending understated with dramatic flair as he flawlessly embodied the essence of the real-life hero. His performance exuded depth and authenticity, striking a chord with audiences globally.
The film achieved remarkable success, not only at the box office, where it amassed a staggering $238 million worldwide but also garnered acclaim from critics.