According to director Robert Zemeckis, the plan was always to use Tom Hanks as the emotional anchor for the entire film. They used motion capture, so Hanks had to wear a tight suit with ping-pong balls all over it. Imagine Tom Hanks, a national treasure, hopping around in a onesie covered in baby pools toys. That’s the real Christmas miracle.
He said he did it because he wanted to “give kids the same feeling” he had watching Christmas specials as a boy. But I think he just wanted to see if he could drive the internet crazy. Mission accomplished, Tom. Mission accomplished.
The Surprising Fact That Will Make You Laugh
Here’s the kicker: Tom Hanks also played the young boy’s father. Yes, there’s a brief scene where the dad says “Goodnight” to his son. That’s Tom Hanks again. So, in one scene, Tom Hanks (as the boy) is looking at Tom Hanks (as the dad) while being pulled along by Tom Hanks (as the conductor). It’s a Tom Hanks Russian nesting doll.
People are only just realising that Tom Hanks played 6 roles in The
Think about that. Tom Hanks essentially acted against himself for the entire movie. No other actors. Just him, a mirror, and a lot of screaming into the void. He did more voices in one film than most actors do in their entire career. He’s like the human version of a multi-pack of crayons.