Lucky Guy, Written by the Late Nora Ephron, Still Broadway Bound

Lucky Guy, a play by the late Nora Ephron centering on Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Post columnist Mike McAlary, is still aiming for Broadway, according to The New York Times. Ephron passed away on June 26 after battling leukemia. Helmed by George C. Wolfe, the previously announced production may star Tom Hanks in his Broadway debut.

In a statement to the Times, producer Colin Callendar said of the play, “We are honored to be part of her legacy and remain committed to seeing her magnificent work ‘Lucky Guy’ shine on Broadway and can think of no more fitting tribute to her extraordinary writing and remarkable body of work.” Before Ephron’s death, the production was slated for a late winter or early spring 2013 opening. No official casting, theater or exact dates have been set.

Lucky Guy is the story of McAlary, a tough journalist and heavy drinker who covered major crime stories during the '80s and '90s, including the sodomizing of Abner Louima by police. In 1988, McAlary won the Pulitzer Prize for his aggressive coverage of the case. A few months later, the journalist died at age 41 of colon cancer.

Hanks won Oscars in two consecutive years for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, respectively. He also earned Oscar nominations for Big, Saving Private Ryan and Cast Away. His many film credits include The Da Vinci Code, Catch Me If You Can, Larry Crowne, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, A League of Their Own, Apollo 13, Turner & Hooch, Joe Versus the Volcano, The Money Pit, Splash, The ‘Burbs and the animated Toy Story films. Hanks starred in Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, both written and directed by Ephron.