Tom Hanks transforms into a Civil War VETERAN FOR THE film NEWS OF THE WORLD

Tom Hanks transforms into an old man in the Wild West in a new trailer for his upcoming film News Of The World. Based on a 2016 novel by Paulette Jiles, the film is helmed by Paul Greengrass who also directed Tom in Captain Phillips.

In this film Tom also plays a 'captain' - Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd who is on a mission to retrieve a young Texan girl kidnapped by the Kiowa tribe. The little girl played by German child actress Helena Zengel is called Johanna and in the book her parents were murdered by the Kiowa. She is raised by the tribe and becomes attached to them, but her aunt and uncle hire Civil War veteran Jefferson to find her and bring her back to Texas. However Johanna has become so immersed in life among the Kiowa that she does not understand English and it is left to Jefferson to teach her.

Jefferson, whose job is to read newspapers aloud to townsfolk, can be seen in the teaser's opening scene doing the same for Johanna.

'You see all those words? Put 'em all together and you have a story,' says Jefferson prompting Johanna to repeat: 'Story.' Later on he is seen driving a wagon while trying to get Johanna to her relatives - as she effortlessly rides on horseback beside him.

'Well, you can certainly handle a horse,' he marvels at her, to which she says: 'Horse' indicating she has picked up the new word. 'Captain,' she then says, and Jefferson seems pleased at this, pointing at himself and saying: 'Make no mistake - captain.'

However the dynamic duo run into their share of danger, including a sandstorm that at one point appears to separate them. Jefferson can be seen desperately bellowing: 'JOHANNA!' as the little girl is spotted in silhouette some distance away.

They also find themselves waylaid by a group of gunmen who inform Jefferson that the 'road's closed' and when he asks: 'Is that the law?' they reply: 'It is now.' A leering man tries to buy the child from Jefferson and snatches of footage show the aged captain having to defend himself with a gun.

In spite of the continuing coronavirus lockdowns the teaser advertises that the movie will get a theatrical release on Christmas Day.

Tom and his wife Rita Wilson came down with COVID-19 earlier this year while in Australia.

The teaser advertises that the movie will be released on Christmas Day