Tom Hanks Reunites with Heller for 'The Comebacker'

Tom Hanks is set to reunite with director Marielle Heller for "The Comebacker," a baseball-themed dramedy adaptation of a short story by Dave Eggers that has sparked a competitive bidding war among studios.

The project, which draws from Eggers' "The Forgetters" collection, follows Lionel, a fading sports journalist whose passion reignites after encountering a minor league pitcher recovering from a severe on-field injury. The pitcher, struck in the head by a line drive during a game, begins speaking poetically, inspiring Lionel's writing and captivating readers nationwide. In the screenplay by Heller, the story shifts its focus from the San Francisco Giants in the original tale to the New York Mets. Hanks will portray a pitching coach connected to the injured player, while the role of the pitcher remains uncast, with several actors anticipated to pursue it.

Hanks and Heller, who collaborated on the 2019 Oscar-nominated film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," will both produce through their banners: Playtone for Hanks, alongside longtime partner Gary Goetzman, and Defiant by Nature for Heller, with Leah Holzer. Production is slated to begin in October, marking another chapter...