Iconic Hollywood actor Tom Hanks is to take part in an annual Irish book festival to promote his debut novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece.
The annual Dalkey Book Festival has secured a massive coup for this year’s rendition, as one of Hollywood’s foremost actors has agreed to participate in the festival.
Tom Hanks, star of such films as Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, and The Green Mile, recently debuted his first novel which is due to be released next week. The narrative spans several decades and is sure to be a huge attraction when the festival commences.
What is the Dalkey Book Festival? – a star-studded cast of speakers
The Dalkey Book Festival was set up in 2010 by David McWilliams and Sian Smyth. This year, the festival runs from 15-18 June in the seaside town of Dalkey, County Dublin.
A range of other high-profile speakers will be attending this year’s festival. Amongst them are Bono, physicist Brian Cox, author Roddy Doyle, broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, and comedian Ruby Wax.
A list of the full programme for the 2023 Dalkey Book Festival can be found here. Readers can see a litany of events you can attend between Thursday and Sunday.
Tom Hanks at the Dalkey Book Festival – Oscar-winning actor turned author
Tom Hanks is well-known for the many sensational performances he has turned in during his acting career, which have culminated in two Oscar awards for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump.
Hanks’s debut novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, is the subject of his appearance at the festival in the south Dublin suburb. He is due to attend on 16 June.
Hanks is also expected to speak about his incredible journey through acting to now writing, according to event organisers. Furthermore, those attending the event will all receive a copy of the novel.
Hanks’s debut novel – what to expect in the book
Hanks’s debut novel has already received a four-star rating on Waterstones, while The Guardian described it as an “ambitious, myth-busting novel”.
The book has been described as an ambitious story of the making of a star-studded and multi-million-dollar superhero action film and the comic book that inspired its creation. It covers eight decades in America and features a kaleidoscope of characters to take you through the narrative.
Graham Norton described the book as a “stunning, emotionally satisfying tale about the art of storytelling. I never wanted the lights to come up. I could not put it down”, and he praised Hanks’s “unique insight and rare eye for detail”.
Tickets go on sale for the Dalkey Book Festival on Wednesday, 3 May, at 10 am.
