Tom Hanks Offered the Role of the Villain in Disney's DUMBO
Earlier today we learned that Will Smith is in talks to join Disney's live-action adaptation of Dumbo. A recent report from Variety indicates that, if cast, he will "play the father of the children who develop a friendship with the lovable elephant after seeing him at the circus." That's pretty much the character I suspected he would play.
The report also reveals that Tom Hanks was offered the role of the villain in the story! I would love to see Hanks take on the villainous role in the Tim Burton-directed film. They don't say exactly who he would be playing, but if they stay true to the original animated film, he will be playing the Circus Ringmaster, which is perfect for Hanks!
The actor has a choice to make. He can choose to take on this villain role in Dumbo or he's also looking at starring in a World War II drama called Greyhound. The report says he'll probably take the role in Greyhound, which II can see him doing, but it would be fun to see him in Dumbo because we rarely get to see him play a villain.