Hanks & Ryan Travel To "Ithaca"

"Sleepless in Seattle" Joe Versus the Volcano and "You've Got Mail" duo Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks will reunite for "Ithaca" on which Ryan will make her directorial debut reports Deadline

Based upon author William Saroyan's novel "The Human Comedy," the action is set in 1942 in a small California town where a fourteen-year-old teen is determined to be the best bicycle telegraph messenger anyone has ever seen.His older brother has gone to war, leaving him to look after his widowed mother, his older sister and his 4-year-old brother. He also struggles with a message that will change him forever..

Sam Shepard, Melanie Griffith and Jack Quaid also star.

Erik Jendresen ("Band Of Brothers") wrote the adapted screenplay.

Janet Brenner, Laura Ivey, Ryan and Jendresen are producing the film.

Hanks and Gary Goetzman will executive produce.

Production hopes to start this summer.