Tom Hanks is making his return to directing after a 14 year hiatus(his last was 1996's
That Thing You Do!
) with
Larry Crowne, which also sees him teaming up with his
Charlie Wilson's War
co-star, Julia Roberts. Hanks is starring as a middle aged man who gets canned from his job, and in an attempt to reinvent himself, decides to head back to college. Roberts is one of his professors that takes a liking to him. The script was written by Hanks and Nia Vardalos(
My Life in Ruins
), who also has an unspecified role. Cedric the Entertainer, Rita Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bryan Cranston, and Wilmer Valderrama co-star.
The first official trailer for the film has been released, and I'm really diggin' it. Hanks is as likable as ever, and I was surprised to see that Roberts' character has a touch of "Bad Teacher" in her. Larry Crowne is due out in theaters on July 1st!