Tom Hanks could be heading back to the world of literary adaptations. The Hollywood veteran is reportedly in talks to headline the film version of bestselling novel ‘Theo of Golden’.

Warner Bros. Pictures is currently negotiating the film rights to Allen Levi’s bestselling novel, with Hanks expected to produce the project alongside Gil Netter and Gary Goetzman. Levi is attached as an executive producer.

The story is set in the fictional town of Golden, where a mysterious stranger named Theo suddenly arrives and begins buying pencil portraits of local people that are displayed at a coffee shop.

Rather than keeping the portraits, Theo tracks down the people they belong to and returns them. In the process, he gets drawn into the lives of the townspeople, learning about their relationships, memories and personal struggles. His growing connection with the community eventually brings him face to face with a painful tragedy from his own past.

The premise gives Hanks plenty of room for the kind of character-driven storytelling that has featured prominently throughout his career.

Theo of Golden has had a remarkably quick journey to the big screen. Levi originally self-published the novel in 2023. The author was a first-time novelist who had previously worked in law before moving into music. Simon & Schuster later took the book to a wider audience, publishing it internationally in October last year.

The novel has reportedly sold more than 3.5 million copies in the US and has been translated into 43 languages. It has also topped bestseller lists in several countries, including the UK, Italy and the Netherlands.

If the deal goes through, the adaptation will add another literary property to Hanks' long list of film projects inspired by books.

Hanks has several projects in the pipeline. He recently wrapped ‘Greyhound 2’, returning as both writer and star, with Aaron Schneider directing. He is also set to collaborate with producer Gary Goetzman on ‘The Comebacker’, directed by Marielle Heller.

In ‘The Comebacker’, Hanks will play a New York Mets pitching coach whose life becomes intertwined with that of a promising young pitcher, played by Callum Turner. The young player’s career takes a devastating turn after he is hit by a batted ball following one of his pitches.

Sony Pictures acquired the project, which is based on a short story by Dave Eggers and adapted for the screen by Heller.

With agency inputs