Palisadian Tom Hanks to Star in ‘A Man Called Otto’

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor 

Palisadian Tom Hanks has taken on a starring role in “A Man Called Otto,” based on the New York Times bestseller “A Man Called Ove.”

Written by David Magee and directed by Marc Forster, “A Man Called Otto” is a comedy-drama and the second film adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s 2012 novel. Hanks can be seen as the titular character, Otto Anderson—who no longer sees a purpose in life after losing his wife.

“Otto is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door and he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol,” according to a synopsis of the film. “She challenges him to see life differently, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world around … ‘A Man Called Otto’ shows that family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.”

The film is described as a “heartwarming and funny story about love, loss and life.”

Alongside Hanks—who is also a producer on the film with his wife, Rita Wilson—the film stars Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Truman Hanks and Mike Birbiglia.

When asked what drew her to the story, Wilson told Deadline she watched the first film adaptation and thought it was a “very special movie.”

“I sort of had this pit in my stomach like, ‘Oh boy, I really think I want to make this movie,’” she said in an interview. “And I was also thinking, ‘Tom would be really good in this.’ And so the good news was, he didn’t say no.”

Wilson also revealed that Foster encouraged her to write and record a song for the film—which she did. She wrote the song “Til You’re Home” with David Hodges, whom she previously wrote a song with for the film “Boy Genius.” Hodges also wrote “A Thousand Years” with Christina Perri for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1.”

“What I [hope] is that you feel something from it,” Wilson said about the tune. “I hope there’s just some kind of truth that comes from it and that people feel it. That’s really all I can say.”

“A Man Called Otto” will hit select theaters across Los Angeles on December 30 and expand its limited release on January 6, before going nationwide January 13.