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<h2>Tom Hanks Auditioned for ‘Risky Business’ Before Tom Cruise Landed the Lead</h2>



<p>Long before he won Academy Awards for <strong>“Philadelphia”</strong> and <strong>“Forrest Gump,”</strong> Hanks was still trying to establish himself in Hollywood. During the casting process for “Risky Business,” <strong>he auditioned to play Joel Goodsen,</strong> the ambitious high school senior at the center of the film. Other future stars, including <strong>Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, John Cusack,</strong> and <strong>Gary Sinise</strong>, were also considered for the part.</p>



<p>The role eventually went to Tom Cruise, whose performance transformed “Risky Business” <strong>into the breakthrough that elevated him to leading man status.</strong> Released in 1983, the coming-of-age comedy paired Cruise with <strong>Rebecca De Mornay</strong> and followed Joel as an ordinary teenager whose life spirals into increasingly outrageous situations while his parents are away.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1280" height="720" data-id="97589" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/07/09145002/Risky-1-1280x720.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-97589"><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



<p>The picture proved to be both a critical and commercial success. It earned more than <strong>$63 million at the domestic box office,</strong> received widespread acclaim, and secured Cruise his first Golden Globe nomination. Over the years, it has also been recognized as one of the defining teen films of the 1980s.</p>



<p>Although Hanks did not get the role, his own breakthrough arrived just a few years later with <strong>“Big,”</strong> a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination and set the stage for one of the most accomplished careers in modern cinema. Looking back, “Risky Business” remains one of those fascinating casting stories <strong>where two future Hollywood icons briefly crossed paths</strong> before taking very different routes to stardom.</p>


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<p>From lighthearted comedies to emotional dramas and gripping thrillers, <strong>Tom Hanks has done it all. </strong>He’s the everyman audiences root for, a reliable presence on screen who brings honesty, warmth, and depth to every role. Whether he’s stranded on an island, commanding a WWII mission, or voicing a beloved toy, Hanks always delivers.</p>



<p>To celebrate his birthday, <strong>we’re revisiting ten of his most iconic films.</strong> These are the roles that helped define his legacy, earned critical acclaim, and reminded us why Tom Hanks remains one of the most respected and beloved actors in the world.</p>



<h2>Forrest Gump (1994)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09121323/Hanks1-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71199" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>Tom Hanks won his second consecutive Oscar for playing Forrest, a simple man whose life intersects with some of America’s most significant events. His tender, layered performance turned this into an instant classic.</p>



<h2>Saving Private Ryan (1998)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09121529/Hanks2-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71200" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>As Captain Miller, Hanks brought quiet strength and vulnerability to Steven Spielberg’s brutal and emotional WWII epic. The role is one of his most commanding and human.</p>



<h2>Cast Away (2000)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09121732/Hanks3-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71201" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>Hanks carried nearly the entire film solo, turning a deserted island survival story into a deeply emotional journey. His physical transformation and raw performance were unforgettable.</p>



<h2>Philadelphia (1993)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09121908/Hanks4-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71202" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>This groundbreaking film earned Hanks his first Oscar, portraying a lawyer battling both AIDS and discrimination. It was a bold, compassionate role that helped shift public awareness.</p>



<h2>Big (1988)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09122103/Hanks5-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71203" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>The film that made Hanks a star. Playing a boy in a grown man’s body, he nailed the physical comedy and innocence, creating a character that remains one of his most beloved.</p>



<h2>Apollo 13 (1995)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09122410/Hanks6-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71204" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>In this tense space drama based on true events, Hanks led the ensemble with calm authority and emotional depth, proving once again he could anchor a high-stakes story.</p>



<h2>Toy Story (1995)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09122513/Hanks7-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71205" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>Voicing Woody in Pixar’s first feature, Hanks brought warmth, humor, and heart to a cowboy doll. He turned an animated character into one of the most iconic roles of his career.</p>



<h2>The Green Mile (1999)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09122814/Hanks8-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71206" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>In this supernatural prison drama, Hanks played a compassionate death row guard witnessing miracles and tragedy. His performance grounded the film’s fantasy elements in real emotion.</p>



<h2>Captain Phillips (2013)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09123109/Hanks9-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71207" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>As the titular cargo ship captain held hostage by Somali pirates, Hanks delivered one of his most intense performances—especially in the raw, emotional final scene.</p>



<h2>A League of Their Own (1992)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/07/09123441/Hanks10-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-71208" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Source: IMDb</figcaption></figure>



<p>Hanks flexed his comedic muscles as a washed-up baseball manager in this beloved sports dramedy. His grumpy-yet-lovable character gave us one of cinema’s most quoted lines: “There’s no crying in baseball!”</p>


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<p>After the series “<a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/apple-tv-plus/masters-of-the-air-is-the-new-appletv-series-based-on-real-events-20231231-SPEN-524.html"><strong>Masters of the Air</strong></a>” with <strong><a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/topic/austin-butler">Austin Butler</a></strong> and a wide ensemble of prominent stars joined the <strong><a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/apple-tv-plus">Apple TV+</a></strong> catalog, many users have been left wanting more, so now comes the real story of the main group.</p>



<p>“<strong>The Bloody Hundredth</strong>” is the new movie, narrated by <strong><a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/topic/tom-hanks">Tom Hanks</a></strong> and produced by <strong>Steven Spielberg</strong>, which has become the continuation of the war <a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/topic/drama">drama</a>, honoring the heroes of the 100th Bomb Group.</p>



<p>Directed by <strong>Laurent Bouzereau</strong> and <strong>Mark Herzog</strong>, the production premiered just three days ago and has already become the most-watched on the platform, both worldwide and in the United States, surpassing other major titles.</p>



<h2>The Bloody Hundredth ranked No. 1 on Apple TV+</h2>



<p><strong>The Bloody Hundredth</strong> is the new <strong>Apple TV+</strong> <a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/movies">movie</a> that not only portrays the real people who carried a patriotic cause on their shoulders with heroism and honor but has also become one of the <strong>biggest trends of the moment</strong>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2024/03/28071929/The-Bloody-Hundredth-1-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-11190" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>The heroes of the 100th Bomb Group in The Bloody Hundredth, Apple TV+ documentary. (Source: Apple TV)</figcaption></figure>



<p>The <a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/topic/documentary">documentary</a> serves as a bonus for the series Masters of the Air, which also featured in the catalog and starred a large ensemble cast full of stars, including Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle and <a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/topic/barry-keoghan">Barry Keoghan</a>.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/topic/series">series</a> depicts how five miles above the ground and behind enemy lines, eleven men inside a bomber known as the “Flying Fortress” battle swarms of German fighters. Now, the film portrays the true story of the group that has made history.</p>



<p>With a runtime of just one hour and two minutes, the production <strong>has become the most-watched on the platform worldwide and in the United States</strong>. According to Flix Patrol, the title has managed to surpass <em>Napoleon</em> and <em>Killers of the Flower Moon</em> for the top spot.</p>



<p>Each of the scenes is carried out using archival material, images and videos that were recorded at that time, including some scenes that appear in the episodes. Each of them is narrated by <strong>Tom Hanks</strong>, who also took on the role of producing the new film, alongside <strong>Steven Spielberg</strong> and <strong>Gary Goetzman</strong>.</p>



<h2>What is the story behind The Bloody Hundredth?</h2>



<p>The Flying Fortress Group, officially known as the <strong>100th Bombardment Group</strong>, was an elite unit of the United States Air Force during World War II, known for their bravery and skill in the air.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Bloody Hundredth — Official Trailer | Apple TV+" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZkYOtyp3hKU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<p>They operated the formidable <strong>B-17 Flying Fortress bombers</strong> and these fearless pilots and crews faced hostile skies over Europe, confronting intense enemy attacks while carrying out strategic missions to weaken Axis forces.</p>



<p>Through their courage and sacrifice, the group of men, consisting of <strong>approximately 2,000 individuals</strong>, became a living legend of aerial warfare, leaving behind a legacy of heroism that endures in historical memory.</p>


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