The opening words in the trailer for “Greyhound” are surprising because they are so rich with something you don’t often see in mainstream movies: faith — and they were written (and are spoken) by Tom Hanks.

About the movie:

The film is based on the 1955 novel The Good Shepherd by C. S. Forester. It also stars Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue. The film follows a US Navy Commander on his first war-time assignment at the midpoint of World War II during the Battle of the Atlantic, as he leads his multi-national escort group in defending a convoy of merchant ships as submarines attack.

Interesting to note: the author, C.S. Forester, is probably better known as the author of “The African Queen” and the Horatio Hornblower novels.

The trailer for “Greyhound” indicates it was inspired by true events. But that doesn’t mean the story is entirely true: 

Although The Good Shepherd was inspired by true events ⁠— the Battle of the Atlantic was the longest-running military campaign to take place during WWII — its main character is fictional.

Directed by Aaron Schneider — the creator behind the 2003 Two Soldiers, the 2009 Get Low, and the 2014 Into the Storm — the war drama promises plenty of spectacularly shot battle scenes, an action-packed narrative, and a close exploration of the internal life of an experienced marine who faces unfathomable dangers for the first time in his life.

Worth noting: Hanks was raised in a Catholic household, but is now a practicing Greek Orthodox, having adopted the religion of his wife, Rita Wilson:

When a reporter cornered Tom and Rita and asked if they believed in the power of prayer, the unashamed Christian couple revealed that they pray often, and encourage others entrust their lives to the Lord as well.

When Tom was asked if he believed in God, the actor replied,

“I think you’ll be foolish not to believe in God.”

Check out the movie trailer below: