COVID-19 has finally hit Hollywood as Toy Story actor Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have contracted the Coronavirus during pre-production for Warner Bros. upcoming ‘Elvis Presley’ film.
In a statement first provided to Deadline and later posted publicly to his public Instagram account, Hanks stated that “We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires” and promised to “keep the world posted and updated.”
The full statement reads:
“Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive.
Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?
We’ll keep the world posted and updated.
Take care of yourselves!
Hanx!”
Hanks and Wilson were exposed to the virus while in Australia to meet with the production team for an ‘Elvis Presley’ film, in which Hanks will play Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Warner Bros. also released a statement confirming that “a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus)” and assuring the public they would be “working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual”:
“We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).
We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.
The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment.”