Tom Hanks Breaks Silence on Surprise New Role—Everything Fans Need to Know

Tom Hanks is heading back to the stage—and this time he’s bringing his own words with him. The two-time Oscar winner will star in the world-premiere run of “This World of Tomorrow,” an original play he co-wrote with playwright-director James Glossman. The limited eight-week engagement is set for Oct. 30–Dec. 21, 2025 at The Shed’s 550-seat Griffin Theater on Manhattan’s Far West Side. The story • Plot: Hanks plays Bert Allenberry, a lonely scientist from a future era who keeps time-traveling back to the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, desperately searching for love. • Source material: Themes, character names and the typewriter motif are pulled from Hanks’s 2017 bestselling short-story collection “Uncommon Type.” • Cast & crew: A 10–12-member ensemble supports Hanks, with Tony-winning director Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun”) at the helm. Scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Adam Honoré and composer-sound designer Justin Ellington round out the creative team. Why this matters 1. First NYC stage role in 12 years: Hanks last appeared on Broadway in 2013’s “Lucky Guy,” earning a Tony nomination. “This World of Tomorrow” marks his first Off-Broadway appearance and his debut as a produced playwright. 2. Event-level scarcity: Only 56 performances are scheduled, instantly making tickets a hot commodity for theater-goers, movie fans and pop-culture tourists planning fall trips to New York City. 3. Convergence of star power and social themes: While framed as a romantic adventure, the play reportedly weaves in 1939-era warnings about rising authoritarianism—resonant fodder for critics and audiences alike. Ticket information • Pre-sale for Shed members starts mid-June; public on-sale opens June 28 at theshed.org. • Prices are expected to range from $99 to $249, with rush and standing-room policies announced closer to previews. Tom Hanks’s statement “To explore love and yearning across time in a venue like The Shed feels, to me, as wondrous as the World’s Fair itself,” Hanks said, calling the project “a one-of-a-kind experience.” Industry buzz • Awards radar: Because the show is Off-Broadway, it will be eligible for both the Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards, while keeping Hanks in the conversation for a future Broadway transfer. • Broadway ripple effect: Theater marketers expect a late-fall tourism bump similar to 2019’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” phenomenon when another Hollywood icon, Jeff Daniels, headlined. Quick guide for fans searching online Keywords to watch: “Tom Hanks play tickets,” “This World of Tomorrow plot,” “Tom Hanks Off Broadway 2025,” “The Shed Griffin Theater schedule,” “James Glossman collaborations,” “Kenny Leon new production.” Bottom line Between its star-powered lead, sci-fi romantic hook and strictly limited run, “This World of Tomorrow” is positioned to be the most talked-about New York theater ticket of fall 2025—giving Tom Hanks fans a rare chance to see America’s favorite storyteller live and in person.