The first official trailer for A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood — biography drama based on Mr. Rogers — has finally dropped, and Tom Hanks looks like a spitting image of the popular children's entertainer.
In the two-minute-and-26-second trailer, Hanks puts on the iconic red sweater, tie, and loafers, channeling his inner Fred Rogers — a TV personality who came to prominence in 1968 when his show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood aired. His demeanor and slight accent were all on display as well. That's pretty reassuring, as according to Esquire, Hanks actually met with the TV personality's widow, Joanne Rogers, to really nail the role. According to her, he really wanted to know if Fred Rogers spoke in the soft, slow manner he portrayed on TV. Apparently, that's actually how he'd talk, and Hanks did such a good job that she says Sony Pictures couldn't have found a more perfect fit to play her late husband.
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The filmmakers went the extra mile to ensure authenticity outside of Hanks' performance, however. In fact, they filmed scenes in the same studio Mister Rogers Neighborhood filmed in New York.
A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood follows Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a journalist tasked with profiling Fred Rogers for a story in Esquire Magazine. Based on the real-life friendship between the iconic TV star, musician, puppeteer, and generally good person and journalist Tom Junod (who Vogel is based on). After meeting the perpetual optimist, the writer's view on life changes.
While we still have a while to wait until the film hits theatres — it doesn't release until November 22, 2019 — moviegoers who grew up watching Mister Rogers Neighborhood will surely be interested in catching this one. Throughout the 30 plus years, the show was on the air, Rogers taught children how to accept their negative feelings and deal with them in appropriate ways, to take care of others, and to be positive people.
Fred Rogers passed away in February of 2003 after a short battle with stomach cancer. Following his death, the web, newspapers, and TV stations were flooded with letters of appreciation, thanking the long-time entertainer. His legacy is unquestioned, and he'll forever be considered one of the most positive influences on society in our lifetime.