Colin Hanks: Dad excited over 'Kong' role

NEW YORK, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Colin Hanks says his Oscar-winning father, Tom, was happy -- and a bit envious -- when he heard he nabbed a role in Peter Jackson's re-make of "King Kong."

"He was unbelievably excited," said the 28-year-old actor, who plays a member of the crew shooting a film on the mysterious island home of a gigantic gorilla and dinosaurs.

"I had actually told my sister first because she is a huge 'Lord of the Rings' fan and she screamed for about a good five minutes," Hanks told reporters in New York.

After Hanks' sister told his father, the elder Hanks left a message on his son's voicemail, singing the theme song from the 1960s animated TV show, "King Kong."

"And in our correspondence while I was in New Zealand and I was telling him about the experience of what it was like making this movie and the people I was making it with, he said: 'As a father, I'm very, very happy for you. As an actor, I'm unbelievably jealous.'"

Hanks said his father wasn't able to visit him on the set because "it's clear across the other side of the world.

"He's kind of a busy man," he quipped.