If youre from a certain generation, Mr. Rogers is probably very important to youor perhaps he was when you were a child. Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks is taking a stab at portraying the late childrens television host in the new film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. And in the current state of the world and all its chaos, we just really need this movie to come through for us, emotionally. Hanks is known as Americas Dad, so were crossing our fingers that he can pull it off. Hanks costar in the film, Matthew Rhys, weighed in on the Youve Got Mails actor approach to embodying Fred Rogers with Entertainment Weekly.

The 2018 documentary on Fred Rogers, Wont You Be My Neighbor?, was touching and educational. But our current onscreen-Mr. Rogers needs are far more pressing: can Hanks hold our tiny fragile hears in his hands for two hours, the way Mr. Rogers did in his puppet-filled neighborhood?

The voice of Woody in Toy Story is surely a well of acting talent. But donning a cardigan and adopting a few of Rogers mannerisms are one thing. Can Hanksor anyone, for that matterlive up to the man, the legend, the embodiment of all that is kind and pure and good in the world, Mr. Rogers? Will Hanks live up to our unrealistically high, nostalgia-driven expectations?

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood director Marielle Heller toldEntertainment Weeklythat she wouldnt initially have associated Hanks demeanor with that of Rogers.

Hes got a loud voice, Heller says of the Sleepless in Seattle star. He walks into a room and you know that hes there! He shakes everyones hand, hes really funny, theres never an awkward moment. This was not the case for the former PBS host.

Fred sat in silence and stillness in a way I dont think Tom naturally does, she said. While Hanks naturally makes everyone comfortable and makes everyone feel great Fred disarmed people by asking a question and then sitting and staring at you until you answered.

The Can You Ever Forgive Me? filmmaker explained her biggest directing challenge was getting Hanks to become less Tom Hanks. Heller wanted to let discomfort and painful things sit.

Matthew Rhys, the actor known for his work on FXs The Americans and the 2017 film The Post, plays Lloyd Vogel in the Heller film. The character of Vogel is a journalist who is interviewing the TV icon for a magazine story. The movie traces the story of the two mens burgeoning friendship, giving it less of a tradition biopic feel. Rhys told Entertainment Weekly all about his co-stars performance on set.

Wales-born actor Rhys said he was initially drawn to A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood out of an interest in Mister Rogers, EW reported.

But it was when Rhys first saw Tom Hanks in character on set that he really felt the films power. He said that observing Hanks in action was a master class in acting.

I just had this moment, Rhys said. By this point, Id watched an enormous amount of Fred Rogers. [Hanks] was just doing this little bit of a walk. Aside from the gait, Rhys explained, there was something he did with his hands. And then I just went, Oh my God!'

Rhys even uses Rogers advice in his personal life.

Fred has always said, Relay frustration to [your children] by remembering that you were a child once, and see the world through their eyes,' the Welsh actor recalled. Rhys has internalized this ideology, acting on it with his own three-year-old son.

Fred Rogers legendary PBS show premiered in 1968 and ran for 31 seasons. Considering the man positively affected so many childrens lives, we will be waiting with bated breath to see if this 2019 film lives up to Rogers enduring legacy.

Sonys trailer description calls the movie a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood comes out in theaters Nov. 22. In the meantime, well be dreaming of seeing a movie that makes our day a special day, by just being itself.

More:
Will Tom Hanks Be Everything We Desperately Need Him to Be in the New Mr. Rogers Movie? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet