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Though Tom Hanks has a deep appreciation for certain sci-fi classics, you won’t find him frequently diving into the genre. However, he has ventured into science fiction with films like “Cloud Atlas” and “Asteroid City.” In 2021, he took on the lead role in the Apple TV+ original film “Finch.” In this narrative, Hanks portrays Finch, one of the few humans left in a post-apocalyptic world, who trains a robot named Jeff, played by Caleb Landry Jones, to look after his dog once he’s gone.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
“Finch” was among several Hanks films, including “Pinocchio” and “Greyhound,” that faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a shift from theatrical releases to streaming platforms. While critics described it as a conventional post-apocalyptic story, they praised Hanks’s performance for adding a layer of charm that made the film engaging. Notably, the technology behind Jeff’s creation earned a Visual Effects Society Award for outstanding animated character in a photoreal feature.
As “Finch” unfolds with Hanks’s character isolated from other humans, many drew parallels to his earlier film “Cast Away,” a comparison frequently discussed during promotional events. Despite his pride in “Cast Away”—which he considers one of his finest works—Hanks dismissed any direct link between the two films.
In a conversation with SyFy, Hanks emphasized the distinct circumstances of his characters. In “Cast Away,” Chuck Noland is aware of the world and people he longs to return to, while Finch faces a grim reality devoid of such hope. Hanks explained, “I think there’s just a different philosophical bent on trying to discover what is out, as opposed to trying to get back to a thing that you know is there.”
Hanks dismisses comparisons between Finch and Cast Away
Apple TV+
During a press roundtable for “Finch,” as reported by Collider, Hanks further distinguished the experiences of Finch and Chuck Noland. “[‘Cast Away’] is about the best thing that ever happened to this man. He was in a plane crash and lived on an island for four years, and from that came this life that he never would have imagined that he’d have. That’s not the theme of ‘Finch.’ Nothing great happened to Finch. His time is limited,” Hanks elaborated.
Discussing the topic with SyFy, Hanks said that the crucial difference is that his characters in each movie are in very different places. While “Cast Away’s” Chuck Noland knows that there is a world full of people to get back to, Finch faces a far less optimistic reality. “I think there’s just a different philosophical bent on trying to discover what is out, as opposed to trying to get back to a thing that you know is there,” he explained.
Meanwhile, in a press round table for “Finch” (via Collider), Hanks further contrasted Finch and Chuck Noland’s experiences, stating, “[‘Cast Away’] is about the best thing that ever happened to this man. He was in a plane crash and lived on an island for four years, and from that came this life that he never would have imagined that he’d have. That’s not the theme of ‘Finch.’ Nothing great happened to Finch. His time is limited.”
