Tom Hanks is to star as a petty thief and gambler in the adaptation of the Richard Russo novel
The Risk Pool for director Lawrence Kasdan (
Dreamcatcher) who is also writing the movie, according to Variety.
Set in the same upstate New York location that is the usual haunt in Russo's books,
The Risk Pool tells the story of a man who is suddenly charged with raising his son, after his estranged wife has a nervous breakdown. Hanks will play a charming petty thief and gambler, whose unreliability puts him on the lowest rung of the insurance risk pool.
"(The) father is a charming but unreliable screw-up who introduces this sheltered boy to this wonderful and slightly dark world of pool halls and bars," Kasdan said. "The relationship between them is funny and moving, and I don't recall being so immediately struck by a book since 'The Accidental Tourist.' I took it to Tom because I thought he would be so perfect in the role."