Chet Hanks, son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, is making waves with his role in the new Netflix series “Running Point.” The show, co-created by Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen, and Elaine Ko, features Hanks as Travis Bugg, a basketball player with a bad-boy reputation. In a recent interview, Hanks revealed that the character is a slightly exaggerated version of himself. “It’s almost like it was written for me, but it wasn’t,” he said.
“I get to be a slightly exaggerated version of myself.”
Hanks, who has been open about his struggles with addiction, connected with Travis’ own battles in the series. “That’s just great writing, and I’m glad they allowed the opportunity to give their character more depth,” he added.
Chet Hanks takes on Travis Bugg
The character description for Travis Bugg called for “a white guy, covered in tattoos, a wannabe rapper, and a huge liability because of what he posts on social media.” Despite initial reservations, Hanks assured the creators he wouldn’t engage in any problematic behavior. “Running Point” centers around Isla Gordon, played by Kate Hudson, who takes over her family’s NBA team, the Los Angeles Waves. The character is inspired by Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss, who serves as one of the show’s producers.
Hanks landed the role through an audition process, impressing the show’s creators with his performance. “Chet Hanks gave us such an amazing audition that we were just like, ‘OK, it has to be him,'” said co-creator Ike Barinholtz. The actor, who has been acting since he was 16, has appeared in various projects, including “Project X,” “Fantastic Four,” and episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He also shared the screen with his father in the 2011 film “Larry Crowne.”
“Running Point” is now streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a chance to see Chet Hanks in a role that seems tailor-made for his unique background and experiences.