Rita Wilson reveals real reason why ‘Asteroid City’ star Tom Hanks turned down ‘When Harry Met Sally’ role
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Hanks stars in the lead role in Wes Anderson's upcoming film 'Asteroid City', which is about to be his first entry into the director's idiosyncratic cinematic universe. The film sports a star-studded cast, including Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Jason Schwartzman, and Tilda Swinton.
When it comes to films, Hanks has left a significant mark on the romantic comedy genre. He is especially known for sharing on-screen chemistry with fellow actress Meg Ryan in beloved films like 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'You've Got Mail', written and directed by Nora Ephron. However, it's intriguing why Hanks did not appear alongside Ryan in 'When Harry Met Sally...', a film written by Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson, just spilled the beans on why we never got that ultimate rom-com trilogy with him and Ryan.
Why did Tom Hanks turn down the character of Harry Burns?
Wilson revealed an interesting tidbit about Hanks during her appearance on iHeart Podcast's Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi. She mentioned that the actor couldn't connect with the character of Harry Burns in the film 'When Harry Met Sally...'. "People probably don't know this, but Tom was offered 'When Harry Met Sally' and he turned it down because he was going through a divorce and he was very happy to be not married," Wilson told Bozzi, adding, "And so he could not understand that a person going through a divorce would have anything other than just like, 'I'm so happy'."
Billy Crystal was later cast instead of Hanks, and he became widely known for portraying Harry Burns in the iconic film. He shared the screen with Ryan, who played the character of Sally Albright. The film, which became a hit in the late '80s, follows the story of Harry and Sally, who meet after graduating from the University of Chicago when Sally offers Harry a ride to New York. As their lives unfold, they navigate the pursuit of love, experiencing various ups and downs while repeatedly crossing paths. Eventually, a deep friendship develops between them. However, they face the significant dilemma of if a man and a woman can just be friends without sex getting in their way.
'When Harry Met Sally...' is a cult classic
Since its release, the film has garnered a devoted following and has achieved cult classic status. Many of the rom-com's memorable lines continue to be quoted and cherished by fans even after 34 years. In a recent celebration of his 75th birthday in March, Crystal paid homage to the film by recreating a shot from it. He captured the essence of his most iconic look from the 1989 hit, donning white sneakers, jeans, and a white cable-knit sweater, writing, "Thank you all."
Tom Hanks' latest venture 'Asteroid City' had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May and is scheduled for a worldwide release on June 16.