ROTTEN TOMATOES: Tom Hanks Drops Out of Darabont's Fahrenheit 451

Tom Hanks Drops Out of Darabont's Fahrenheit 451

Director in search of new Guy Montag.

by Jeff Giles | March 31, 2008

Frank Darabont's long-gestating adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 is in need of a new leading man.

Darabont tells MTV Movies that Tom Hanks, who had been attached to the lead role for roughly a year, has exited the project:

Mr. Hanks sadly and regretfully had to back out. I was really looking forward to working with him again, but his other commitments just precluded it. He had to take a step back.

But even without Hanks on board, Darabont's enthusiasm for Bradbury's tale of an America in which books (and all critical thought, really) have been banned remains undimmed. He's still going full steam ahead:

I see this movie so clearly in my head. It's flowing in my veins...It's one of the greatest books ever written. It's got all that great political stuff underneath the skin of it but really what it is is a great galloping tale.

So who's Darabont looking at to step in for Hanks? He doesn't name any names, but he does tell MTV that he's looking at "a short list of people."

Source: MTV Movies

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(1-20 of 47 posts) | Reply

Kollikodon writes:
on Mar 31 2008 06:15 AM

hmm...

oh S***... what about Steve Buscemi?

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 06:49 AM

So what who needs this Tom Hanks character, what has he ever done!? Sounds like a c-list actor with that name Tom Hanks. I don't think this Hanks person will make it in Hollywood! Take it from me you heard it here first.

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Mar 31 2008 06:52 AM

In reply to this comment (#1662104)
I would LOVE to see Buscemi in the lead for this (Irony: started career with Fire Department), but he is not NEARLY charismatic enough as a leading man. ..And, god help me, the boy is FUGLY.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 07:28 AM

Yeah, "Mr. leading role" sounds like "Mr. *****". Tell you what, let me be Mr. supporting role. That sounds good to me. I'm Mr. supporting role.

(Reply to this)

bwozar07 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 07:35 AM

My gut tells me that Josh Brolin might end up in this role.

I'd prefer to see Edward Norton in it though...

(Reply to this)

Shatter24 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:22 AM

How about Bruce Willis, in one of his world weary rather than kick butt roles? Or, Matt Damon could be interesting, if we're looking for an intellectual type.

(Reply to this)

spitting into the wind writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:37 AM

Christian Bale would be fantastic for the part.
Of course if he could tempt Daniel Day-lewis to immerse himself in the role eveyone would be a winner!!!!

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:48 AM

Let me be the first to say it cause you know like a hundred other people will...Christian Bale. I got it, Christian Bale will star in every leading role in every movie.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:49 AM

oh forget it spittingintothewind beat me to it. proves my point even more.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:52 AM

Darabont is great, I love SHAW SHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE, and THE MIST was really good. Sounds like or a cool movie, I wish HANKS was still in it. Maybe JOSH BROLIN, EDWARD NORTON, or perhaps THOMAS JANE. Though I would rather see JOSH BROLIN in it.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:02 AM

he's looking at "a short list of people."

How about a "list of short people!"

Danny Devito. . . They could have cool chase scenes where he runs over the flamethrower's legs.

I also hope they mention that it is only perfectly O.K. to burn books that you don't agree with when you haven't read them.

(Reply to this)

Vortex&Vertigo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:03 AM

I don't like to be a skeptic, but this remake has been trying to see the light of day for ages. Ever since Mel Gibson was trying to do it some 15 years back. I don't know how much money has been waisted all these years but wow, they sure have waisted a lot of time.

(Reply to this)

digitalrelic writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:06 AM

Meh, Christian Bale was already in Equilibrium which was pretty much a Fahrenheit 451 rip off anyway.

I think Ewan McGregor would make a fantastic Guy Montag.

(Reply to this)

digitalrelic writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:14 AM

Edward Norton or Clive Owen would be great as well.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:25 AM

Guy Pierce

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:26 AM

...sorry just saw 'The Proposition' again, f'ckin awsome

(Reply to this)

kissman24 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:07 AM

Argh! Well, this was a big loss. I was looking forward to this film and Hanks had something to do with that. I hope they can pull in another great lead actor to fill the role.

(Reply to this)

High School With Money writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:16 AM

Ralph or Joseph Fiennes.

(Reply to this)

tempest3991 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:19 AM

It'd be hard to make this movie any better than V for Vendetta or Equilibrium. Those two movies are excellent....

Somehow i think seeing this movie would remind me of those at every turn :(

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:21 AM

Edward Norton gets my vote.

(Reply to this)

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