'On the Set of Forrest Gump' revisits the now classic film through a primarily filmmaking lens, written by producer Steve Starkey and forwarded by Tom Hanks. From the journey of finding the right actors, to the discussion on how to adapt the book, and the changes that were intentionally made to give Forrest a different perspective, Starkey provides an extensive analysis on how the film began production, and how the end result came to be.
It was interesting seeing the logic behind the differences that exist between the movie and its source material, Winston Groom's 1986 novel by the same name, giving richer backstories to certain characters, following a less cynical approach, removing some of the more unconventionally fantastical elements, and telling an overall more heartwarming story.
It was also a pleasant surprise to see that the book did not fall into the trap that many behind-the-scenes memoirs fail to avoid by becoming too technical, and eventually too tedious. The writing is gripping, and the story is told from a very human and creative perspective. The inclusion of dozens of previously unreleased behind-the-scenes images, stills from the film and their corresponding snippets from the script, as well as the different trivia included, like the fact that Kurt Russell provided the voice of Elvis Presley for that famous (or infamous, depending on your feelings about it) scene of his brief encounter with Forrest, definitely add to the book's charm.
It goes without saying, but this is definitely a book for someone who has already watched 'Forrest Gump'. But at the same time, it should make for a compelling read for anyone invested in cinema history. No matter where you stand on the film's approach to sociopolitical themes, this is an interesting examination of the thought process, and the intent, that went behind the creation of the movie. Written in an unmistakeably earnest way, for what was undoubtedly a passion project that took the creativity, effort, and persistence of a lot of people to reach its final form.
The book adds an extra layer to the discussion surrounding 'Forrest Gump', and offers an in-depth exploration of the process of filmmaking. With thorough descriptions on how practical effects were used to shoot certain shots, and what visual effects made specific scenes possible, how certain scenes never made it into the film, and some solid examples of how artistic vision often clashes with budgeting and the viewpoints of studio executives. All in all, it is a book that as a movie lover I definitely enjoyed.
Big thanks to the University Press of Kentucky for the advance review copy.
The book is coming out on March 17, 2026.
