Are you ready for the story of how a coffee conglomerate helped save the life of an executive? Man, we can already visualize the synergized tie-in lattes and soundtrack CDs.
The pretty powerhouse duo of Gus Van Sant and Tom Hanks were once preparing to direct and star in an adaptation of the memoir "How Starbucks Saved My Life" by Michael Gates Gill over at Universal. But The Weinstein Company now has the rights to the movie that tells the story of an executive who has it all — big salary, Ivy League education — then gets divorced, loses his job and his affluent lifestyle, gets diagnosed with a brain tumor and winds up working at Starbucks. But through a black woman, and doing the kind of grunt work and hard labor millions of Americans do every day to make ends meet, this dude learns valuable life lessons. Geez. Here's the book synopsis:
In his fifties, Michael Gates Gill had it all: a mansion in the suburbs, a wife and loving children, a six-figure salary, and an Ivy League education. But in a few short years, he lost his job, got divorced, and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. With no money or health insurance, he was forced to get a job at Starbucks. Having gone from power lunches to scrubbing toilets, from being served to serving, Michael was a true fish out of water.
But fate brings an unexpected teacher into his life who opens his eyes to what living well really looks like. The two seem to have nothing in common: She is a young African American, the daughter of a drug addict; he is used to being the boss but reports to her now. For the first time in his life he experiences being a member of a minority trying hard to survive in a challenging new job. He learns the value of hard work and humility, as well as what it truly means to respect another person.
Behind the scenes at one of America’s most intriguing businesses, an inspiring friendship is born, a family begins to heal, and, thanks to his unlikely mentor, Michael Gill at last experiences a sense of self-worth and happiness he has never known before.
Isn't this sort of like "Larry Crowne" all over again? No word if Tom Hanks and Gus Van Sant are still attached, but we presume — and sincerely hope — they have since moved on. [Deadline]