Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan’s ‘You’ve Got Mail’ reboot in the works

A reboot of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s 1998 romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” is in development at Warner Bros. Pictures. 

Deadline reported on Tuesday, Nov. 10, that filmmaker Jason Orley is tapped to direct the new version. Orley is also working on the screenplay, based on an earlier draft by writers Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont.

Plot details, including whether the new film will follow the original story or introduce a different take on its premise, remain under wraps. No casting announcements or release date have been revealed. There is also no confirmation that Hanks and Ryan will reprise their roles or appear in the reboot.

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The original “You’ve Got Mail,” released in December 1998, was written and directed by Nora Ephron. It starred Hanks as Joe Fox, a businessman who owns a large bookstore chain, and Ryan as Kathleen Kelly, the owner of an independent children’s bookstore in New York City.

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Although the two are business rivals in real life, they unknowingly develop a romantic connection through anonymous online messages. Their relationship becomes complicated when Joe’s new bookstore threatens Kathleen’s business.

According to Box Office Mojo, the film earned approximately $250.8 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $65 million. Its domestic earnings reached $115.8 million, while international markets contributed about $135 million, making it a commercial success following its Christmas release. 

The reboot will mark another project for Orley, whose previous feature films include the 2019 coming-of-age comedy “Big Time Adolescence,” starring Pete Davidson, and the 2022 romantic comedy “I Want You Back,” featuring Charlie Day and Jenny Slate.

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Hanks, meanwhile, most recently reprised his voice role as Woody in Pixar’s “Toy Story 5.” He is also set to return as Captain Krause in “Greyhound 2,” the sequel to his 2020 World War II film. 

Ryan, on the other hand, most recently appeared in the feature film as a leading actress in “What Happens Later” (2023), which she also directed. 

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She is also part of the cast of Lena Dunham’s upcoming Netflix romantic comedy “Good Sex,” alongside Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo and Rashida Jones. /ra