The film is a biopic of Fred Rogers, creator and host of the long-running children's TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968 - 2001). The plot will focus in part on the real-life friendship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod, who will be portrayed by Matthew Rhys (The Americans). The cynical journalist reluctantly takes an assignment to write a profile story about the cherished TV icon. In the process, Junod's perspective on life is forever changed by Rogers. The real-life piece, titled Can You Say...Hero?, was published in Esquire in November 1998.
Marielle Heller is set to direct for Sony's TriStar Pictures from a script by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. Heller previously directed Diary of a Teenage Girl and recently wrapped filming on Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy. "I'm thrilled to be making [A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood]," she told Variety. "The script knocked me out with its message of kindness and its exploration of the human spirit. As a mother, I am so inspired by the teachings of Fred Rogers and as a human I am in awe of his life's work."
The Mr. Rogers movie's release date has been updated to November 22, 2019. Seeing that Tom Hanks had several films set to shoot in 2018, including the WWII movie Greyhound, it was unlikely that the Mr. Rogers movie would be released before the fall of 2019.
The Mr. Rogers documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor? premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. It was released in the USA on June 8, 2018.
Dive deeper into the A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood true story by watching Fred Rogers testify before Congress in the video below as he attempts to secure $20 million in funding for PBS. Then view a trailer for the Fred Rogers documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?