Here sees Tom Hanks reunite with director Robert Zemeckis, and the film includes a sly reference to one of their previous collaborations. The 2024 drama marks the fifth time Hanks and Zemeckis have worked together on a film, as their partnership began in 1994 with Forest Gump. The Oscar-winning drama and box office success have motivated the duo to work together over the years, although the frequency of their partnership has increased in recent years. Despite these previous works, Here is the biggest Forest Gump reunion film so far with Robin Wright, Eric Roth and others also involved.
The longevity of Hanks and Zemeckis’ partnership, and their individual careers, has created some unique possibilities with a story like Here. Because the film’s setting spans millions of years of history, the ever-changing time periods meant a variety of pop culture and historical references. Heredialogue and details even seem to appear stealthily Castaway reference, intentionally or not. The 2000 Oscar-nominated, $429 million-grossing film has a pivotal moment relating to Chuck’s journey, and there’s a nice return to it in Here.
One Here Line indirectly references Chuck and Kelly’s Cast Away reunion
At one point Herethere is a conversation between a real estate agent and Al and Rose Young as they want to buy Hereis the main house. Since Al is a WWII veteran, the real estate agent makes a comment about all the husbands who came back from the war. She even mentions that she heard cases of wives opening their front doors and finding their husbands, who were presumed dead, standing in front of them. This is remarkable considering Castawayis ending.
One of the pivotal scenes near the end of Castaway happens when Chuck (Tom Hanks) goes to talk to Kelly (Helen Hunt) at her house. Before Chuck could knock on the door, Kelly opened it and, for the first time in four years, saw the man she would probably marry. Chuck and Kelly’s reunion is not identical to the stories the realtor refers to in Herebut the similarities are apparent. Even if it wasn’t intentional HereFor Robert Zemeckis’s part, it’s hard not to think about this memorable Tom Hanks scene from the previous film.
Here’s Cast Away Callback is one of multiple unintentional references to Tom Hanks’ filmography
Tom Hanks’ films are easily consulted
Here mentioning a story similar to what happened in Castaway it’s one of the few times the film mentions events that connect to films Tom Hanks has been in. The background of some WWII subplots brings his WWII films like Saving Private Ryan and Greyhound for mind. The film also appears to be set in or around Pennsylvania, with Philadelphia mentioned by name, making think of Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance in Philadelphia. There’s even a mention of the space race and NASA, which leads to thoughts about Apollo 13.
It’s unlikely that any of these references to the Tom Hanks film in Here they were made on purpose. However, the various connections become great memories of the film star’s incredible filmography was part of it. He has done this over the decades and remains a versatile and prominent star. So, just like Here highlights the time in his story, it’s also a wonderful reminder of some of the classic performances Tom Hanks has delivered over the years.