NEWS OF THE WORLD - PAUL GREENGRASS and HELENA ZENGEL INTERVIEW

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Tom Hanks is back and this time he has a young co-star by his side who really gives him a run for his money!

News of the World is a Western drama film co-written and directed by Paul Greengrass, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Paulette Jiles.

Set in Texas in 1870, the movie stars Tom Hanks stars as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a Civil War veteran who ekes out a living going from town to town performing readings from newspapers. He encounters Johanna Leonberger, a 10-year-old girl played by Helena Zengel who calls herself Cicada.

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Cicada had been kidnapped by the Kiowa tribe six years earlier and raised as one of their own. But when soldiers kill her Kiowa family, Cicada is left alone. Kidd decides to take her to her only living relatives and on the way, the two learn each other's language.

Paul Greengrass is known for his work on the “Jason Bourne” films with Matt Damon.

He's also known for movies based on recent historical events like “Captain Phillips,” which looked at the 2009 hijacking of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama, and “United 93” about the plane that went down in Pennsylvania on 9/11. But for his new film opening Christmas Day, "News of the World," Greengrass makes a foray into historical fiction and was excited to take on a big old fashion western.

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Greengrass says he wanted to work on something new with this project. Something about the story of a lonely man who has lost everything connecting people through reading the news, a form of storytelling really stuck with thim.

Young German actress Helena Zengel is absolutely outstanding in the movie and completely holds her own opposite two time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks. The two established a chemistry on and off screen and it is absolutely riveting taking this cinematic journey with them.

News of the World opened in select theatres on December 25th but is now available on VOD on Friday January 15th.

I spoke with Paul Greengrass and 12-year old Helena Zengel about working on the film.