Warner Bros. is in talks to bring one of publishing's biggest surprise hits of the past year to the big screen - and Tom Hanks is circling the lead role.
The studio is negotiating for the film rights to Allen Levi's "Theo of Golden," with Hanks in talks to star as the title character. Gil Netter, Gary Goetzman, and Hanks are attached to produce, with Levi serving as executive producer.
The novel follows Theo, a quiet stranger who arrives in the small Southern town of Golden and begins buying pencil portraits of local residents from a coffeehouse wall, returning each one to its subject. The story has struck a chord with readers well beyond its Georgia setting - more than 3.5 million copies have sold in the United States alone, and the book has been translated into 43 languages.
What sets the project apart is its author. Levi, a longtime Christian singer-songwriter and former attorney and judge, published the book independently before it was picked up by Simon & Schuster. Christianity Today described Theo as a character whose hope and love come through in a "winsome" way, through kindness and generosity - themes rooted in Levi's own faith. The book has also been featured on faith-focused platforms like The Gospel Coalition's Gospelbound podcast, where Levi discussed the story's spiritual undercurrents.
A deal is reportedly close to being finalized. No release date has been announced.
