Trailer released for Pittsburgh-area filmed Tom Hanks movie 'A Man Called Otto'

A trailer for the filmed-in-Pittsburgh Tom Hanks movie “A Man Called Otto” was released Thursday.

The movie, filmed at numerous locations across the Pittsburgh region, will be released in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas and will go into wide release, including Pittsburgh, on Jan. 13, said Joe Fucci with Allied Global Marketing.

The film has not yet been rated.

In the Alle-Kiski Valley, scenes were filmed at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Oakmont in March and at Simpson Reinforcing in Arnold in April.

Other filming locations include Sewickley Cemetery, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Merchant Street in Ambridge, Monroeville Senior Citizens Center, North Park and Max’s Allegheny Tavern.

While filming was under­way, Hanks was spotted throughout the region. He showed up in a wedding photo outside the Fairmont Pittsburgh hotel and officiated a wedding in a couple’s home in Bellevue.

He waved at 2-year-old Charles Glass while filming in Ambridge. Charles’ home overlooks part of Merchant Street where filming was taking place.

The movie tells the story of Otto Anderson, portrayed by Hanks, a grumpy widower who is set in his ways. When a young family moves in next door, Otto meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside down.

“It is exciting to see ‘Man Called Otto’ arrive on the big screens soon,” said Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office. “The filming was a wonderful experience for the region. Our crew and local actors enjoyed working with Mr. Tom Hanks for the second time.”

Related:

• 3.31.22: Scene from movie 'A Man Called Otto' filmed at Oakmont church, sans a man called Tom Hanks
• 4.5.22: Tom Hanks visits Arnold as filming for 'A Man Called Otto' continues in Pittsburgh region

The first time Keezer refers to is 2019’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” based on the true story of the friendship between Fred Rogers, portrayed by Hanks, and journalist Tom Junod, who was renamed Lloyd Vogel in the film.

“Maybe he will come back for a third time one day soon. We hope so!” Keezer said.

Directed by Marc Forster, whose credits include “Finding Neverland,” the film also stars Mariana Trevino (“Club de Cuervos”); Rachel Keller (“Fargo”), and Manuel Garcia-­Rulfo (“The Magnificent Seven”).

The screenplay is written by Academy Award nominee David Magee (Best Adapted Screenplay, “Life of Pi,” 2012; Best Adapted Screenplay, “Finding Neverland,” 2004) and based upon the 2012 novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman.

The film also is based on the 2015 Swedish film written and directed by Hannes Holm.

“A Man Called Otto” is being produced by Hanks, Rita Wilson, Gary Goetzman and Fredrik Wikstrom Nicastro.