After they'd stop clutching their chests and gasping for air, the first thing most of the blogosphere did when they first heard about Steven Spielberg's Harvey remake was assume that Tom Hanks would play the lead. He's been so frequently called the Jimmy Stewart of our generation, and has worked with Spielberg so many times, that it seemed obvious Hanks would play Stewart's original role as a man who is friends with a giant, invisible bunny.

But not so fast, says Variety. A spokesperson for Fox says that Tom Hanks isn't on board, and didn't even read the script before passing on the project. Apparently Hanks is well aware that everyone thinks of him as a modern Jimmy Stewart, and wisely realized that the inevitable comparisons would make it impossible to succeed in the role. If he acted too much like Stewart did, he was unoriginal. If he acted too unlike Stewart, he'd be crucified for disrespecting the original.

Of course, it's pretty much impossible for anyone to win in this role, given how many people are dead-set against the movie to begin with. Movieline thinks Hanks passing means that Will Smith is a shoo-in for the role, given that he's equally as bankable and lovable as Hanks, but hasn't been compared to Jimmy Stewart for 20 years. But he's also the safe, boring choice, and if Spielberg wants to set his movie apart in the slightest, he'll pick someone more off the wall. Give it to Stanley Tucci! Give it to Zach Galifianakis! Anyone but the inevitable.