Innkeeper: No Reason Given on Change of Hanks Filming Plans

The one question Sudbury residents are asking today regarding Tom Hanks not filming in town is: What happened?

Hanks was scheduled to film drive-through scenes in Town Center, and scenes at The Wayside Inn, earlier this week for the filming of "Captain Phillips."

Originally planned to shoot in town on Thursday, the Sudbury Police Department was notified filming would be bumped up by one day.

But Hanks never showed up. Neither did the film crew.

According to publicist Alex Worman in an email sent to Sudbury Patch on Thursday, the driving plans changed.

"We completed our driving scenes in the Lincoln area," he said.

But it turns out Hanks was indeed in Sudbury — for lunch.

According to Innkeeper John Cowden, Jr., Hanks and co-star Catherine Keener had lunch at the historic inn on Monday, March 19, while checking out the scenery for the planned filming.

"They loved the site," Cowden said, "and we entered an agreement (to use the inn for the movie)."

But four days later, the plans changed.

"On Friday, the shoot was off," Cowden said. "No reason was given."

Cowden said a significant amount of work went into preparing the inn for the filming, which included changing work schedules for his employees and moving house guests to its sister property, The Wayside Carriage House Inn.

"For this to not materialize was disappointing," Cowden said.

Cowden said there were four rooms that were reserved for the day of the shoot, but when he explained to the guests what was happening, they agreed to move.

"The guests were understanding," Cowden said. "We wound up sending them down street to more luxurious rooms. It was a sweet deal. They were fine with that."

Cowden said the inn did not lose any business to the last-minute changes.