Tom Hanks, his wife Rita Wilson and actress Nia Vardalos have dropped their legal battle over profits from hit 2002 movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Vardalos wrote the script for the comedy, while Hanks and Wilson were producers of the film.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding proved to be an unexpected blockbuster, earning profits of $368 million.

However, the trio later accused their co-financiers at Gold Circle Films of reneging on agreements to pay the stars a share of the takings, and filed a lawsuit at Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2007.

But the firm’s bosses have reportedly refused to pay the plaintiffs any share of the profits or damages – and Hanks, Wilson and Vardalos have since decided to put an end to the legal wrangling by dropping the suit altogether. They have yet to give a specific reason for their actions.

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I cannot wait to see this movie, you just don’t even know!

Here are Pierce Brosnan and wife Keely Shaye Smith, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, Amanda Seyfiend and Colin Firth with mystery woman.

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Tom Hanks has joined the calls for America’s acting unions to approve a deal with studios to end the threat of an actors’ strike this summer.

Actors are threatening walkouts at the end of June if talks between the unions and major film studios fail to resolve a dispute over pay and conditions.

And now Hanks has added his name to an email petition urging members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) to accept a deal offered by Hollywood chiefs.

If the union accepts the new agreement, it would be a major step forward in avoiding a strike which will cripple the U.S. film and TV industry – and put many thespians out of work.

Another actors union, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), is also negotiating a deal with the major studios – and SAG bosses are urging members of AFTRA to turn down the proposals.

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The Vatican has a clear message to Tom Hanks and his costars in the new Da Vinci Code movie: “Keep out.”

The diocese of Rome has banned Angels and Demons from filming inside its churches because the movie “does not conform to our views,” says spokesman Monsignor Marco Fibbi.

Angels and Demons is a prequel to 2006′s Da Vinci Code – also starring Hanks and also based on a Dan Brown best-seller – which controversially claimed that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children.

Producers had requested – and were denied – permission to shoot in two of Rome’s historic churches, Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria, Reuters reports.

“It’s a film that treats religious issues in a way that contrasts with common religious sentiment,” Fibbi told the wire service. “Normally we read the script but this time it was not necessary. The name Dan Brown was enough.”

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Tom Hanks played a real life hero this week by halting filming on his new movie to help a stranded bride reach her wedding.

Hanks is currently filming Da Vinci Code sequel Angels and Demons in Rome, Italy and the crew were shooting outside the Pantheon church in the city when the actor spotted the stricken woman.

The bride, in her traditional white dress and veil, had arrived at the church – only to find her access blocked by the film crew, causing her to panic.

But Hanks immediately halted filming and rushed over to help – taking the woman on his arm, he escorted her and her father across the set to meet her groom at the altar.

The star even gathered the train of her dress, to stop the long gown dragging on the floor. And after his good deed was done, Hanks allowed the crew to complete the scene, reports Hello magazine.

The new movie is due for release next year.

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Tom Hanks is offering one lucky fan the chance to act opposite his wife Rita Wilson in a performance of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

The double Oscar winner has teamed up with the eBay Giving Works organization and will auction off the chance to land a speaking role in the play when it airs as part of the Shakespeare Festival L.A. on May 19th.

The winning bidder will also get the chance to mingle with Wilson’s co-stars Annette Bening, William Shatner, Zach Braff, Tim Allen, Christina Applegate, David Schwimmer and Sean Astin, and he or she will also be a part of the post-show cast party.

Hanks has also agreed to record a personal message for the winning bidder’s answering machine.
The auction, which will be managed by Auction Cause, will go live on eBay.com on Thursday and run until May 14th.

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Tom Hanks, his wife Rita Wilson and Nia Vardalos, the star of their hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding production, are set to go to trial to fight for money they claim they’re owed.

The trio co-produced the 2002 movie and maintain their co-financiers at Gold Circle Films still owe them a share of the profits.

The ongoing lawsuit was referred to mediation on Monday and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos set a court date for 20 January (09) just in case the trio’s mediation battle fails.

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