Tom Hanks Weighs in on ‘Nepo Baby’ Debate: ‘Look, This Is a Family Business’

Tom Hanks has chimed in on the debate on nepotism in Hollywood, and defended the casting of his son Truman in his new film A Man Called Otto.

“Look, this is a family business,” said Hanks in an interview with UK tabloid The Sun, as seen above. “This is what we’ve been doing forever. It’s what all of our kids grew up in. If we were a plumbing supply business or if we ran the florist shop down the street, the whole family would be putting in time at some point, even if it was just inventory at the end of the year.” 

Hanks’ son Truman stars as a younger version of his character in A Man Called Otto, a remake of the Swedish comedy-drama A Man Called Ove which was adapted from the novel of the same name. “The thing that doesn’t change no matter what happens, no matter what your last name is, is whether it works or not,” he continued. “That’s the issue anytime any of us go off and try to tell a fresh story or create something that has a beginning and a middle and an end. Doesn’t matter what our last names are. We have to do the work in order to make that a true and authentic experience for the audience.”

Truman isn’t the only one of Hanks’ children to make a career for himself in the film industry, as his son Colin has also starred in several high-profile projects. 

Last year, the prevalence of nepotism in Hollywood gained attention on various social media platforms, predominantly TikTok and Twitter. The tag “nepo baby” was born, and New York magazine did several deep-dives into full extent of some of the most notable familial ties in the industry. While some actors have wisely decided to steer clear of the conversation, some have fought back against the tag. Ice Cube’s son O’Shea, for instance, chimed in on the debate with a more nuanced take.

For a breakdown of the “nepo babies” of rap, you can read it here.