13 Things You Never Knew About "Cast Away"

Wilson and Chuck Noland is one of the best love stories in cinematic history.

Well, not really. But hyperbole is the name of the game here.

Cast Away was one of most compelling stories about man being crushed by his environment and being shaped by it. When the writer came up with the idea he said Tom Hanks’ journey “wasn’t just a physical challenge… it was going to be an emotional, spiritual one as well.”

So here’s some stuff you didn’t know about Cast Away!

1. The screenwriter purposely stranded himself on an island and basically did what Tom Hanks’ character did.

William Broyles Jr. spent several days alone on an island in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. He learned how to crack a coconut, tried to make fire, stabbed and ate stingrays and even became friends with a Wilson-brand volleyball.“That’s when I realized it wasn’t just a physical challenge,” Broyles told The Austin Chronicle. “It was going to be an emotional, spiritual one as well.”

2. There’s someone who loved Wilson the volleyball more than Chuck: One of he original balls sold for $18,400 in an online auction.

In January 2001, one of the three original Wilson volleyballs that Tom Hanks caressed sold for that much online. PS just get a replica for $19.99 on the Wilson Sporting Goods’ website.

3. The cult show LOST was literally ripped off the movie.

Lloyd Braun, the chairman of ABC Entertainment, wanted a show based on the movie and tasked writers to come up with something. Eventually the idea was pitched to nerd visionary J.J. Abrams, who added the sci-fi and supernatural aspects to the show.

4. Tim Hanks got fat on purpose to make himself look like an average out-of-shape dude – and then production had to stop for a year so he could lose 50 pounds and grow out his beard.

He didn’t exercise, got himself a belly, and while he lost the weight, director Robert Zemeckis used the same crew to shoot 2000’s What Lies Beneath.