Is Tom Hanks Cast Away based on a true story?

Like Defoe's historical fiction, Cast Away was inspired by the life of real-world explorers. Alexander Selkirk is thought to have been the biggest inspiration behind Defoe's novel, and he was a Scottish castaway who spent four years on a Pacific island in the early 1700s.

What did Tom Hanks have to do for Cast Away?

Tom Hanks had to lose 50 pounds to star in 'Cast Away' For moviegoers, the shift is instantaneous. But behind the scenes, Hanks actually lost 50 pounds and grew his beard to play Chuck during his life on the island. To accommodate this, Cast Away first shot the early scenes prior to the plane crash.

Where was Tom Hanks going in Cast Away?

But what really happens to the FedEx plane that changes Hank's character forever? Chuck Noland (Hanks) is a FedEx systems engineer who is devoted to his job and delivering parcels on time. But just before the holidays, he takes a last-minute trip to Malaysia that ends in disaster.

What does Wilson symbolize in Cast Away?

Wilson represented the need for human companionship, that is an important thing in a person's life. He survived on the island during that time and the island saved him when he lost everything.

How much did FedEx pay for Cast Away?

And in what may become the marketing equivalent of a bargain like buying Manhattan Island for $24, FedEx got the priceless publicity for free. "People find it hard to believe, but we didn't pay a dime to be in the movie," said Sandra Munoz, a FedEx spokeswoman at the company's Memphis headquarters.

What caused the plane crash in Cast Away?

The plane was obviously having problems flying through a storm before going down, but Kelly told Chuck that FedEx decided the plane went down due to some unmarked hazardous material in one of the packages. The plane's only problem regarding the storm were lack of communication and 'flying blind.

Did Tom Hanks grow out his hair for Cast Away?

To make himself look like an average out of shape middle aged man Tom Hanks didn't exercise and allowed himself to grow pudgy. Production was then halted for a year so he could lose fifty pounds and grow out his hair for his time spent on the deserted island.