Hollywood veteran Tom Hanks is preparing to trade movie cameras for theatre lights as he makes his long-awaited return to Broadway in This World of Tomorrow. After more than 14 years away from the Broadway stage, the two-time Academy Award winner is ready to remind audiences that acting does not always require a blockbuster budget, explosive special effects or a director shouting “cut” every five minutes.
This time, Hanks will star alongside Tony Award-winning actress Kelli O’Hara in a production scheduled for fall 2027. The play, which Hanks co-wrote with James Glossman, is based on a series of short stories he originally penned. Apparently, the man who has entertained millions through cinema has decided that writing the story, acting in it and taking it to Broadway is not enough of a challenge yet.
Fourteen Years Away, but Tom Hanks Is Ready for Another Broadway Round
Hanks last appeared on Broadway in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy in 2013, earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance. Now, more than a decade later, he is returning with This World of Tomorrow, reuniting with O’Hara, who starred alongside him during the play’s Off-Broadway run at The Shed in 2025. The upcoming production will be directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, with the theatre venue expected to be announced later. It is a major return for Hanks, who has spent much of his career winning hearts on the big screen. Broadway audiences will now get to see whether his legendary screen presence can command a live theatre without the luxury of retakes.
But Hanks is not simply showing up to memorise somebody else’s lines and collect applause. He is also one of the writers behind the production, meaning he has a creative stake in the story from the page to the stage. For fans, this could be a special opportunity to see another side of the actor’s storytelling ability. For Hanks, it is an opportunity to return to a form of performance where every line, movement and dramatic pause happens in real time. And if an audience member misses a joke because they are checking their phone, there is no guarantee the scene will wait for them to catch up!
Time Travel, Romance and a Hollywood Star Who Wears Many Hats
This World of Tomorrow is described as a time-travel romance set at the end of the 21st century. Hanks plays Bert Allenberry, a scientist who repeatedly travels back to one remarkable day at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Queens in an attempt to change his future and find true love. The story explores how human choices and relationships can shape the future, even when technology makes extraordinary things possible. With romance and time travel at the centre of the plot, audiences can expect a story that moves between different moments in time while asking timeless questions about love and second chances.
O’Hara’s return adds another layer of excitement, as she and Hanks already shared the stage during the play’s earlier run. Their reunion also brings together two accomplished performers from different corners of the entertainment world. While Hanks is widely celebrated for his film career, O’Hara has earned acclaim for her work in theatre, including a Tony Award-winning performance in The King and I. With Leon directing and Hanks co-writing, the production has assembled an experienced creative team. Now, the challenge is to deliver a Broadway experience that lives up to the anticipation surrounding its star.
As the fall 2027 Broadway run approaches, Hanks is preparing to return to a stage he has not graced in more than 14 years. Whether audiences come for the Hollywood legend, the time-travelling romance or the chance to witness his work as a playwright, the production is already attracting attention. One thing is certain: Tom Hanks is not content to remain a familiar face on cinema screens. He is heading back to the theatre, ready to prove that even after decades in Hollywood, there are still new stories to tell and new stages to conquer. Stay with Buzz Legit FC for more celebrity news, entertainment updates and the latest developments from the world of showbiz.
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