Movie goers are getting the first look at the previously classified, “Bridge of Spies” — the fourth tour of duty together for director Steven Spielberg and actor Tom Hanks.
After having tackled WWII together in “Saving Private Ryan,” the Hollywood heavyweights have trained their sights on the Cold War with a drama based on the real events in 1960 that brought the United States and the Soviet Union closer to conflict.
“Bridge of Spies,” written by Matt Charman and the Coen Brothers, chronicles lawyer James Donovan (Hanks), who is recruited by the CIA to negotiate the release of U2 spy-plane pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) after his plane was shot down over Russia.
“Is there any outcome here where I’m not either detained or shot,” Donovan asks his East German handler with the gravitas for which Hanks is famous.
“The next mistake our countries make could be the last one.”
The two-minute, 42-second trailer released by Disney Friday recaptures the tension of a time when Americans had valid fears over whether the world would be eradicated in a nuclear war.
The project marks the fourth time the Academy Award winners and off-screen friends have worked together after “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), “Catch Me If You Can” (2002) and “The Terminal” (2004). Spielberg and Hanks have also co-produced the critically acclaimed WWII-set HBO mini-series “The Pacific” and “Band of Brothers.”
“Bridge of Spies,” which infiltrates theaters on Oct. 16, also stars Amy Ryan and Alan Alda.
ON A MOBILE DEVICE? WATCH THE TRAILER HERE.
