You’ve seen him as a toy cowboy, a stranded castaway, and a neighborly TV icon. But right now, everyone is buzzing about something a bit more... chronological. If you’ve been scouring the internet for this world of tomorrow tom hanks, you likely ran into a wall of confusion. Is it a movie? A secret Disney project? A sequel to that weird retro-futurist film from the 2000s?
Actually, it’s none of those things. It's better.
Honestly, the truth is that Tom Hanks hasn't just starred in a new project; he’s basically built a time machine on a New York stage. Late in 2025, Hanks made a massive pivot that caught the film world off guard. He didn't head to a soundstage in Atlanta or a green screen in London. Instead, he landed at The Shed in Manhattan for the world premiere of a play he co-wrote and starred in titled This World of Tomorrow.
Why This World of Tomorrow Tom Hanks is the Project We Needed
Most people assume that when a star of this caliber does "sci-fi," it’s going to be a $200 million blockbuster. But this isn't Cloud Atlas. It's not Finch.
This World of Tomorrow is a deeply personal, surprisingly funny, and occasionally heartbreaking stage production. Hanks co-wrote the script with James Glossman, pulling inspiration from his own 2017 short story collection, Uncommon Type. If you haven't read that book, it’s basically a love letter to vintage typewriters and the "good old days." This play takes that nostalgia and injects it with a high-concept sci-fi hook.
Hanks plays Bert Allenberry. Bert is a tech billionaire from the year 2089—a future where everything is automated, sanitized, and, frankly, a little soul-sucking.
Through a company called Chronometric Adventures, Bert spends a ridiculous amount of money to travel back in time. But he doesn't go back to kill Hitler or invest in Apple. He goes back to June 8, 1939. Specifically, he goes to the New York World’s Fair—the original "World of Tomorrow."
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The Plot That Bends Time
The story is basically a "time-traveling rom-com."
While wandering the 1939 Fair, Bert meets Carmen Perry (played by the incredible Kelli O’Hara). She’s a bookkeeper from the Bronx who is just there to see the "Futurama" exhibit with her niece. Bert falls for her instantly.
But there’s a catch.
There is always a catch with time travel, right?
Bert can only stay for a few hours at a time. Every trip costs a fortune and, more importantly, starts to wreak havoc on his DNA. His doctors warn him that if he keeps jumping back, his body will literally fall apart. But he can't stop. He keeps returning to that same day in June, trying to find Carmen again, trying to figure out if a man from 2089 can actually have a future with a woman from 1939.
What Really Happened at The Shed
The production at the Griffin Theater was something else.
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If you were lucky enough to grab a ticket before the run ended in December 2025, the experience started before the actors even took the stage. Ushers handed out small tin buttons that said "I Have Seen The Future." These were exact replicas of the souvenirs given away at the 1939 World's Fair.
It was a brilliant touch.
The staging used these massive moving pillars and high-end projections to shift from the sterile, cold labs of 2089 to the vibrant, neon-lit "Court of States" in Queens. You could almost smell the popcorn and the ozone.
Some critics, like those at The Guardian, felt the play was a bit too "safe" or "sentimental." And yeah, it’s Tom Hanks—sentimental is kind of the brand. But there’s a subtext there that's actually quite dark. The play acknowledges that Bert’s obsession with the past is a form of sickness. He’s so focused on "the way things were" that he’s literally dying in the present.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson plays Bert’s friend, M-Dash, who delivers one of the most sobering lines of the show. He reminds Bert that for a Black man, "traveling back to 1939" isn't exactly a whimsical vacation. It’s a sharp, necessary moment that prevents the play from becoming just a rose-colored-glasses fantasy.
Facts You Might Have Missed
- The Soundtrack: The music was composed by Justin Ellington, blending futuristic synth-scapes with big-band swing.
- The Source Material: While primarily based on the story "The Past Is Important to Us," the play also weaves in characters from "Go See Costas," another story in Hanks’ book.
- The Cameos: Opening night was a literal Who's Who of Hollywood. Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Martin Short were all spotted backstage.
Is a Movie Version Coming?
The big question on everyone’s mind is whether this world of tomorrow tom hanks will eventually hit the big screen.
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Rumors are already swirling.
Given the mixed-to-positive reviews of the stage show, a film adaptation seems like a no-brainer for a streamer like Apple TV+ (who handled Hanks’ Greyhound and Finch). The play's structure—with its jumping between 1939, 1953, and 2089—would actually work much better with a film budget and CGI.
Imagine seeing the actual Trylon and Perisphere recreated in full 4K glory rather than just projected on a pillar.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you missed the play and are feeling the FOMO, here is how you can still experience this "world":
- Read the Book: Pick up Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks. Specifically, read "The Past Is Important to Us." It is the DNA of the play.
- Watch the Nature Doc: While you wait for a film announcement, check out The Americas on NBC/Peacock. It’s the 10-part nature series Hanks narrated in 2025. His voice is basically the sonic equivalent of a warm blanket.
- Visit the Site: If you’re in NYC, head to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. You can still see the Unisphere and the footprints of the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs. It’s the closest you’ll get to Bert’s time-traveling fix.
Ultimately, this project shows a side of Tom Hanks we don't see often enough—the writer and the historian. He’s not just an actor for hire anymore. He’s someone deeply concerned with how we remember our history and what we're willing to sacrifice for a taste of "the good old days." Whether This World of Tomorrow remains a theater legend or becomes a cinematic staple, it’s clear that Hanks is still finding new ways to tell the same old story: love is the only thing that actually survives the clock.
To stay ahead of any official movie announcements or potential tour dates for the production, keep a close watch on the official websites for The Shed and Playbill, as they typically break casting and extension news first.