Tom Hanks Reveals a Big Secret from His Teenage Years

Tom Hanks recently shared a humorous take on seeing himself as a teenager in his new film Here, which uses AI technology to depict him at various ages. The Oscar-winning actor, 67, discussed the experience while promoting the movie on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, where he admitted that his teenage self wasn’t exactly what he’d hoped for.

Hanks’s latest film, Here, utilizes cutting-edge AI to age him both backward and forward, recreating his younger self using a combination of image scans and archival photographs. Reflecting on the digital transformation, Hanks joked, “I’ve seen just enough of it, and seeing me at that age, it has finally answered the question for me, which is no wonder I never got laid.” Host Conan O’Brien played along, quipping, “The original title of the film.”

Hanks laughed, then elaborated on his younger years. “I mean, I had a lot of energy, and I was loud. And, you know… I could make ’em laugh,” he joked, explaining that his charisma was perhaps more pronounced than his looks.

The film’s use of AI technology allowed the team to create a digital version of Hanks by scanning his image and combining it with “every photograph that exists of me.” Hanks explained that the AI team went back to find images from different ages, including 17, 19, and 20, creating an accurate portrayal of his younger self.

Hanks described the unique filming process, where two monitors were used on set. “One monitor was the way we really looked, and the other monitor, with just about a nanoseconds lag time, was us in the deep-fake technology,” he explained. “So on one monitor, I’m a 67-year-old man pretending he’s in high school. And on the other monitor, I’m 17 years old.” The real-time transformation allowed Hanks to see his character evolve instantly, adding an unusual element to his performance.

Here is now in theaters, offering fans a blend of nostalgia and innovative technology as Hanks’ character traverses the timeline of his own life. The film showcases a unique cinematic experience, using AI to blur the line between past and present, all while giving Hanks a humorous chance to revisit his teenage years.