Tom Hanks Directing "Larry Crowne"

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Tom Hanks will both star in and direct "Larry Crowne", the actor's first directorial effort since 1996's "That Thing You Do," reports Deadline Hollywood.

According to Deadline Hollywood: “Tom Hanks must have gotten along spectacularly well with Julia Roberts on Universal's "Charlie Wilson’s War." Because he has written a new film for them to star in together. He's also going to direct it. Hanks and Roberts will re-team in "Larry Crowne," a comedy that will begin production April in Los Angeles.”

The script, penned by Hanks, centers on a man who needs to find a new career and reinvent himself. Hanks will play the title character as he navigates the second act of his life.

Larry Crowne is the first feature Hanks has directed since 1996’s music film “That Thing You Do," which he also wrote.

Roberts recently completed the adaptation of the Elizabeth Gilbert memoir “Eat, Pray, Love” for Columbia Pictures.

“Charlie Wilson’s War,” directed by Mike Nichols and adapted from George Crile’s book, grossed $67 million domestic in 2007 for Universal, and made $119 million worldwide.

It’ll be great to see Hanks back in the director’s chair, and also on screen. I loved “That Thing You Do,” and it’ll be great to watch Hanks and Roberts, two of the biggest starts out there, work together again.

While “Charlie Wilson’s War” wasn’t a masterpiece, I really enjoyed it, and it was clear that Hanks and Roberts loved working together.

Production will begin in April.