Spielberg on his ‘bromance’ with ‘buddy’ Rylance

CANNES: You have to feel sorry for Tom Hanks. For nearly two decades from “Saving Private Ryan” to “Bridge of Spies,” the actor has been the go-to star for director Steven Spielberg.
But now Hanks seems to have been pushed down the Hollywood mogul’s speed dial by British actor Mark Rylance.
The Spielberg-Rylance “bromance” is the talk of the Cannes film festival, with the director blushingly admitting that the two had become “buddies.”
“I have so much respect for Mark,” he said.
Spielberg has cast Rylance in four films in a row, including his adaptation of the children’s classic “The BFG,” with critics adoring the actor’s performance as Roald Dahl’s friendly giant after its weekend premiere at the festival.
“I have not done that with any other actor since Rod Steiger, who was in everything I did from ‘Jaws’ to ‘Close Encounters,’” the director told AFP.
“Working with Mark on ‘The BFG’ was one of the most astonishing experiences I ever had in my entire career working with anybody,” he had earlier told reporters.
“I just feel lucky to know him. I am even luckier that we became friends,” he added.
“I have made a lot of acquaintances over 44 years of directing and I haven’t brought a lot of people from the movies into my life.
“We have so much fun together as friends, as buddies. But that is not why I am casting him.