Being more than an iconic actor, Tom Hanks is also a compassionate human being who cares deeply about his bonds with other people. Working alongside acclaimed director Steven Spielberg back in 1998, the actor had a surprising reason to not star in Saving Private Ryan.
Tom Hanks revealed that the film that got him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor was also one of the films that he was reluctant to sign. Stating a very wholesome reason, Hanks admitted that he did not want to screw up his friendship with director Steven Spielberg while shooting the 1998 film.
Why Tom Hanks Was Reluctant To Star In Saving Private Ryan
With the story of a band of brothers saving one of their privates behind enemy lines, Saving Private Ryan became an instant classic in the 90s upon its release. Director Steven Spielberg found critical acclaim as he proved his worth once again and so did Tom Hanks.
Having been nominated for an Oscar under the category of Best Actor for Saving Private Ryan, there was a time when Hanks was reluctant to sign on the movie. Although he went ahead with the filming, the actor revealed in a later interview that he and Steven Spielberg had quite a good friendship and he did not want to lose or risk it because of a film!
“I’ve seen friendships that ended because of a bad moviemaking experience, and I was really reluctant to do it because of that. Sometimes I’m just astounded that I know this great guy and that I’m friends with him. So it hasn’t been worth it to risk our friendship until now.”
On the other side, Spielberg revealed that he had the same thoughts and that he did not wish to say anything that the Forrest Gump actor might not like.
“The first movie was fraught with, ‘I don’t want to say anything that Tom’s not going to like. I want to keep his friendship. I like this guy and his family. God, don’t let me do anything that’s going to screw that up,”’
Alongside Tom Hanks, the 1998 movie was also one of the reasons several other actors found fame and acclaim by starring in it. Vin Diesel, the man known for his intense love for families, had a minor role in Saving Private Ryan and that film…essentially made him famous.
Vin Diesel Also Found Fame By Starring In Saving Private Ryan
Back in 1998, Vin Diesel wasn’t as famous as he is today. The actor recalled his experience when he got the call from Steven Spielberg that he wanted him for a role in his movie. Portraying the role of Private Caparzo, Diesel admitted that Spielberg did not only employ him as an actor but was also preparing him to be a director!
“… He had said to me, ‘When I wrote the role for you in ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ I was obviously employing the actor, but I was also secretly championing the director in you, and you have not directed enough. That is a crime of cinema and you must get back in the directing chair.’ I haven’t directed enough.”
Saving Private Ryan went on to win 5 Oscars for its harsh portrayal of war and received a high rating of 8.6/10 on IMDB and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Tom Hanks starrer is available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S.
Source: Deseret News
