Meg Ryan is gearing up for her directorial debut – Ithaca – with long-time collaborator Tom Hanks on producing duties.
The film is an adaptation of the novel ‘The Human Comedy’ by William Saroyan, which was first published in 1943. Exploring themes of fractured families, loss, childhood and coming-of-age, the story centres on Homer – a young boy left at home to care for his widowed mother, older sister and younger brother when his oldest brother goes to war. Harbouring ambitions to become the fastest bicycle messenger of all time, Homer spends the summer of 1942 delivering messages of all kinds to the residents of Ithaca. One day, however, a message arrives that will change his world forever.
Ithaca will mark a return to the big screen for Ryan, who has most recently been guest-starring in TV shows such as Web Therapy and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She will both star in and direct the project, from a script written by Erik Jendresen (Band Of Brothers). The cast will also include Sam Shepard, Melanie Griffith and Jack Quaid.
While their initial collaboration – 1990’s Joe Versus The Volcano – failed to set the box-office alight, the subsequent cinematic couplings of Hanks and Ryan, in Sleepless In Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, proved to be blockbusters. With shooting on Ithaca set to begin this summer, it will soon become clear whether that winning onscreen combination works just as effectively behind-the-scenes.