That untitled Steven Spielberg spy thriller movie staring Tom Hanks now has a name, and a composer. The movie will be called “Bridge of Spies.” it is being produced by Dreamworks Pictures and will be distributred by Walt Disney Pictures as part of a long term partnership between the two movie studios. 12-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman (“Saving Mr. Banks”) has been signed to score the film. Previous composter, John Williams schedule was interrupted with a minor health issue and he was unavailable to score the film.
“Bridge of Spies” promises to be a dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events. It will tell the story of James Donovan (Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot.
Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.
Newman has scored many films for DreamWorks, including “The Help,” “Road to Perdition” and “American Beauty,” the latter two for which he received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score.
“Bridge of Spies” also stars three-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance (“Twelfth Night,” “Jerusalem,” “Boeing Boeing”) as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd (“Side Effects”) as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award® nominee Amy Ryan (“Birdman,” “Gone Baby Gone”) as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch (“A Good Day to Die Hard”) as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda (“M*A*S*H,” “The Aviator”) as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm.
Fox 2000 Pictures co-financed “Bridge of Spies” with DreamWorks in association with Participant Media, and will distribute internationally. Disney will handle domestic distribution. In addition to directing, Spielberg will produce the film with Marc Platt (“Into the Woods,” “Drive”) and Kristie Macosko Krieger (“Lincoln”), with Adam Somner (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Daniel Lupi (“Her”), Jeff Skoll (“The Hundred-Foot Journey”) and Jonathan King (“Cesar Chavez”) serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman (“Suite Francaise”) and three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (“No Country for Old Men,” “Fargo”).
I’m looking forward to the Coen brother’s screenplay. Their style of slow plodding story that builds up into something powerful is well suited to the spy genre. Spielberg too should be back in his element with a tightly paced thriller. Tom Hans, of course, is Tom Hanks. What are your thoughts about the assembled team?
The film will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, 2015.