Marielle Heller is directing a screenplay written by Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue who are also executive producers in addition to Leah Holzer of Big Beach Films. The screenplay for the new movie is based on a friendship between Fred Rogers from the amiable show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, and Tom Junod, a notable journalist. The cynical Junod reluctantly accepts an assignment for a profile piece on Mr. Rogers and finds his task pays off when his perspective on life changes. Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster’s story made its first appearance on the 2013 Black List. Junod’s piece on Rogers can be found in an issue of Esquire magazine from 1998.

Tom Hanks is the star of the movie. Previously, the movie was called You Are My Friend. The Sony Pictures film now has a title very much appropriate for the storyline, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The cast includes Chris Cooper, Sakina Jaffrey, Matthew Rhys, and Tammy Blanchard as well. The film hits theaters in October, fall of 2019.

Moreover, Hanks is involved with Toy Story 4 and Greyhound, movies to be released in June and March 2019. And A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood has a Twitter (@ABeautifulDay) account.