Tom Hanks to portray Mister Rogers in 'You Are My Friend'

Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Tom Hanks is set to portray late children's television personality Mister Rogers in an upcoming biopic titled You Are My Friend.

TriStar Pictures has acquired the rights to the film which will be directed by Diary of a Teenage Girl helmer Marielle Heller, Deadline reported. Production will begin in September.

You Are My Friend is scripted by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. The film is based on the real-life friendship between Mister Rogers, real name Fred Rogers, and award-winning journalist Tom Junod, noted The Hollywood Reporter.

Junod begrudgingly accepted an assignment to write a profile piece on Rogers and found his perspective on life transformed during the process.

Rogers hosted Mister Rogers' Neighborhood on PBS from 1968-2000. He died at the age of 74 in 2003 from stomach cancer.

The series will celebrate its 50th anniversary in February. A documentary on the program from Focus Features titled Won't You Be My Neighbor?, recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.