Penguin Random House To Publish Tom Hanks’ Debut Novel

Academy Award winner Tom Hanks already made his successful debut as a writer five years ago with a whimsical collection of short stories, “Uncommon Type.” Now the internationally famous actor has announced the publication of his debut novel next year. His decades of enduring success as an actor, screenwriter, director, producer and dubbing artist have made the 66-year-old California native a fixture in the film industry. In North America, “The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece,” the title of his upcoming novel, will be published by Knopf, a Penguin Random House U.S. publisher, on 9 May 2023. Hutchinson Heineman, a Penguin Random House UK publishing company, has secured the rights for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

The narrative in Hanks’ novel debut spans a total of 80 years, ending with a brilliant film premiere. The novel tells the story of the making of a “colossal, star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film,” as Hanks himself describes it. He has created a colorful cast of characters that includes a troubled soldier returning from war, a young boy with an artistic gift, an inspired and eccentric director, a pompous film star on the rise, and many more. “No one knows how a movie is made, though everyone thinks they do. I’ve made a ton of movies – and four of them are pretty good, I think – and I’m still amazed at how films come together.  From a flicker of an idea to the flickering image on screen, the whole process is a miracle,” says the author, who hopes his book will be thought-provoking as well as entertaining for readers. It is at once a reflection on America’s past and present, on the world of show business and the real world we all live in.

Ailah Ahmed, Publishing Director of Hutchinson Heinemann, a Penguin Random House UK imprint, calls the book deal with the Hollywood legend “a publisher’s dream come true.” Says Ahmed: “The fact that he has written an epic about ordinary people in a rather extraordinary world, and one that is thoughtful, poignant and hugely entertaining is icing on the cake.”