Tom Hanks Officially Starring In New Time Travel Sci-Fi Adaptation Releasing Next Year

One of the most beloved and recognizable actors of all time, Hanks won back-to-back Academy Awards for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994), and has received additional nominations for Big (1988), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019). Recently, Hanks has starred in Here (2024), appeared amongst The Phoenician Scheme‘s (2025) star-studded ensemble, and returned to voice Woody in Toy Story 5 (2026).

Now, per Playbill, Tom Hanks is returning to Broadway for This World of Tomorrow, a play which he co-wrote with James Glossman based on his own short story that appears in his book Uncommon Type (2017). The production is scheduled to open in fall 2027 at a Shubert-owned theater, with the venue yet to be announced.

The play premiered Off-Broadway at The Shed in 2025, starring Tom Hanks alongside Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara (Fallen Angels), who will reprise her role in the Broadway production. Hanks is returning to Broadway after more than 14 years, having previously earned a Tony nomination for Lucky Guy, written by his longtime collaborator Nora Ephron.

• Marc J. Franklin

• Marc J. Franklin

• Marc J. Franklin

In This World of Tomorrow, Tom Hanks plays Bert Allenberry, a scientist living in the late 21st century who travels back in time to June 8, 1939, to visit the New York World’s Fair, where he meets Carmen, played by O’Hara, whom he falls in love with. Its full synopsis reads:

It’s the end of the 21st century and Bert Allenberry is longing for the past. When Bert embarks on a time-traveling quest for true love, he returns—again, and again, and again—to one special day at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Queens. Out of the collision of technology and desire, nostalgia and history, what life will Bert choose as his own?

It’s the end of the 21st century and Bert Allenberry is longing for the past. When Bert embarks on a time-traveling quest for true love, he returns—again, and again, and again—to one special day at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Queens. Out of the collision of technology and desire, nostalgia and history, what life will Bert choose as his own?

Speaking to Playbill during the play’s run last year, Hanks discussed its central themes when asked about their meaning:

If they hadn’t gone to the World’s Fair in 1939, they would not have met the great love of their life. And I’m going to tell you right now, even you have moments like that in your life. That’s the study of history. And I have always been fascinated by that odd aspect of human behavior that says: Things only happen when you’re in the right place at the right time, and you have no idea if you are in the right place or if the time is right to be there—history just sort of decides that for you. And I think that’s fascinating.

If they hadn’t gone to the World’s Fair in 1939, they would not have met the great love of their life. And I’m going to tell you right now, even you have moments like that in your life. That’s the study of history. And I have always been fascinated by that odd aspect of human behavior that says: Things only happen when you’re in the right place at the right time, and you have no idea if you are in the right place or if the time is right to be there—history just sort of decides that for you. And I think that’s fascinating.

Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, Fences) will also return to direct the Broadway production, sharing in a statement:

I’m so excited to continue this work on this amazing new American play. There’s no time like the present to further explore this story of love and time travel from Glossman and Hanks. More than anything, I look forward to even more audiences who will have the chance to witness the onstage chemistry of Kelli O’Hara and Tom Hanks.

I’m so excited to continue this work on this amazing new American play. There’s no time like the present to further explore this story of love and time travel from Glossman and Hanks. More than anything, I look forward to even more audiences who will have the chance to witness the onstage chemistry of Kelli O’Hara and Tom Hanks.

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Further details about the full cast and creative team will be revealed at a later date, but with Tom Hanks and Kelli O’Hara back together onstage, This World of Tomorrow is ready to take on Broadway audiences in a time-traveling journey in which love and history collide.