Tom Hanks addresses and debunks the long-held rumors that he was considered to play the adult Peter Pan in Steven Spielberg's classic 1991 film, Hook. The novie starred Robin Williams as a grown-up Peter Pan, who has long since left Neverland behind. Alongside him, Hook featured Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hoskins, Julia Roberts, Maggie Smith, and Dante Basco.
A cult classic, Hook focuses on Williams' Peter Banning, a workaholic lawyer whose relationship with his family is strained. When his children are kidnapped during a family trip to London, Peter learns he is really a grown-up Peter Pan, and that Captain Hook (Hoffman) has taken the children in a revenge plot. Reuniting with the Lost Boys and Tinkerbell (Roberts), Peter returns to Neverland to become Peter Pan once more. Despite mixed reviews and not meeting studio box-office expectations, Hook has become a cult classic for Robins' iconic performance, with its surprising Star Wars cast cameos and Glenn Close's unrecognizable minor role becoming widely shared and referenced pieces of trivia.
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However, during a recent podcast appearance, one of Hollywood's most beloved actors has firmly addressed a widely spread rumor surrounding his potential involvement in the film. During a guest appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, host Josh Horowitz asks Hanks to take part in a quick-fire question-and-answer section, where he addresses many questions surrounding potential roles he had turned down. Horowitz begins the segment by asking Hanks if it was true that he was Spielberg's initial choice to play the adult Peter Pan in Hook. The actor quickly debunks the rumor before moving on to the next question. Check out the exchange below:
Horowitz: Spielberg, who of course you eventually worked with, he first wanted you to play Peter Pan in Hook. True or false? Do you remember?
Hanks: No, that's false.
While Hanks may not have been in consideration, Spielberg did share alternate ideas for Hook in 2021 by revealing Hook was originally going to be a musical. Spielberg admitted that he removed the songs during the first week of filming, explaining that it didn't feel right and that, looking back, he was unsure if he was ready to direct a musical at that stage. Hanks or no, Hook could have still been a drastically different film if Spielberg's original plans went ahead.
Hook has become a fondly remembered childhood classic for many, with Williams' charming portrayal of Peter rediscovering his true self earning acclaim. Given how the actor left such an impression on co-stars and fans alike, it may be hard for many to imagine any other actor stepping into the role of the adult Peter Pan. Despite this, Hanks' own acclaim and range of roles across his career at the time make him an understandable potential alternate who could have been considered to play the older Peter in Hook, but now the actor has firmly put the widely spread rumors to rest.