Tom Hanks to Play an Irish Catholic Negotiator in New Movie 'Bridge of Spies'

Veteran actor Tom Hanks will be taking on a whole different role in a new movie called St. James Place. In it, he will play a New York Irish Catholic named James Joseph Donovan, who was a significant figure in one of the most infamous international incidents during the Cold War era.

Slash Film said that the actor will be reuniting with director Steven Spielberg for the film, which for the longest time was only referred to as the "Untitled Cold War Thriller" until it was called St. James Place.

John Williams has also signed on to provide the score of the film, while Marc Platt will serve as producer. The script was originally written by Matt Charman, with rewrites from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

Aside from Hanks, other cast members also include Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda and Eve Hewson.

The movie's title Bridge of Spies actually pertains to an actual bridge called Glienicke Bridge (formerly Bridge of Unity) that links the outer reaches of former West Berlin to the city center of Potsdam, which was previously under the control of East Germany.

It was even called the "bridge of spies" in the 60s since American and Soviet intelligence organizations conducted prisoner swaps there.

In Hanks and Spielberg's new movie, Donovan will be negotiating the release of pilot Francis Gary Powers after his plane was shot down in the Soviet Union.

Donovan was born on 139^th Street in Manhattan on February 29, 1916. A book entitled "The Negotiator: The Life and Career of James Donovan" written by Phillip J. Bigger revealed that the lead character "was reared in a conservative Catholic home where concepts of family, religion, educational attainment, and patriotism were key essentials - and he lived up to all of them."

He propelled to fame because of the Kennedy family, and conducted several release of prisoners captured by Cuban authorities during the Bay of Pigs invasion. But the focus of Bridge of Spies will entirely be on his case with Powers.

He was so good at what he does that the New York Times magazine recognized him for being "the sole direct channel between the United States and Cuba." In his lifetime, he managed to release and return to the United States 1,163 members of the CIA as well as secure the departure of some 3,500 of their relatives.

But his accomplishments were sadly cut short in 1970 after he died of a heart attack at age 53.

Bridge of Spies has been scheduled for release on October 16, 2015.