The Simpsons ‘predicted’ Tom Hanks would get coronavirus

Fans of The Simpsons believe that the show predicted actor Tom Hanks would be struck with the coronavirus. 

The iconic animated TV show has been known to foresee major world events – from Donald Trump’s presidency to the discovery of a three-eyed mutant fish to the erection of London skyscraper The Shard.

The show previously ‘predicted’ the coronavirus itself – with 1993 episode Marge In Chains featuring a far-eastern virus sweeping the planet and infecting the residents of Springfield.

Fans now believe the writers foretold that actor Hanks, 63, would have to self-isolate one day, as news broke that the Hollywood star and his wife, Rita Wilson, caught COVID-19 while filming Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic on location in Australia.

In 2007’s The Simpsons Movie – the show’s big screen version of the show – Hanks makes a cameo appearance, advertising a ‘new Grand Canyon’ because the main one has ‘gotten boring’.

After appearing in an ad for the canyon – in which he claims ‘the US government has lost its credibility so its borrowing some of mine’ – the Apollo 13 actor then says: ‘This is Tom Hanks saying if you see me in person, please, leave me be.’

While the theory is somewhat of a stretch, hardcore fans of the show are happily adding this to the ever-growing list of Simpsons predictions.

In Marge In Chains, a virus called Osaka Flu spreads through Springfield after residents order juicers from Japan. 

Scenes show the juicers being packed into boxes as sick workers cough all over them – sending the virus to America.

Fans of the show took to Twitter to discuss the similarities – despite the fact the virus on The Simpsons came from Japan while the current coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan in China. 

Some are so convinced they even took the time to edit ‘Osaka flu’ to ‘Coronavirus’ in Kent Brockman’s news report. 

One person Tweeted: ‘The Simpsons are from the future. They have predicted everything that has happened to us. Like trump becoming pres, Kobe’s death and now the coronavirus. What’s next?! The world ending?’

Someone else penned: ‘The Simpsons scares me. This episode aired 27 years ago in 1993!’ 

Other examples of The Simpsons fortune-telling skills include 2000’s episode Bart To The Future, in which Lisa is the president of the United States, having succeeded Donald Trump.

This episode aired 16 years before even the idea of Trump taking over The White House was a possibility. 

In 2008, Homer was seen attempting to vote for Barack Obama in the US general election in the annual Halloween episode of the show, only for the machine to keep switching his vote.

Four years later, a voting machine in Pennsylvania was discovered to be changing people’s votes from Obama, who was running for a second term, to Republican rival Mitt Romney.  

Hanks’ diagnosis has left Australian director Luhrmann to urge the cast and crew of his film to stay home.

In a private letter obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin, the 57-year-old filmmaker said that they were facing a ‘difficult situation’ in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

‘Be assured we will keep you updated as that information develops,’ Baz wrote.

‘We request all cast and crew stay at home today and not come to work. All work activity on the production is cancelled and will not resume until further notice.

‘We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and we will be following up with more details over the next several hours.

‘On a personal note, please know that the health and well-being of our entire company is our absolute focus at this time. Many thanks for your support as we manage this difficult situation.’

At the time of writing, there have been 128,883 confirmed cases of coronavirus globally, with 4,729 deaths in total.

Tom and Rita tested positive for the novel coronavirus, they revealed on Thursday.

The Forrest Gump star and his wife, both 63, announced the positive test results on Instagram and urged the public to ‘take care’ amid the pandemic.

The couple are currently on the Gold Coast, where the Oscar-winning actor is filming the as-yet-untitled Elvis Presley film being produced by Warner Bros.

Hanks revealed he and Rita experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.

He wrote: ‘Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive.

‘Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

‘We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!’

He also shared a picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket and a latex glove in a hospital.

Tom touched down in Australia on January 26 for the film, which is still in pre-production meaning cameras have not started rolling yet. He plays Elvis Presley’s longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

He was rumoured to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach – the very same hotel building where a 44-year-old Chinese national, who later became one of Australia’s first cases of coronavirus, was staying.

That man was rushed to the hospital on January 28 and was confirmed to have the virus on January 29. He had recently returned from Wuhan and was travelling with his wife and child and was staying at the Oracle building, but was not a guest at Peppers Broadbeach, which is located in the same building. 

Warner Bros. said in a statement that when they became aware someone in production was diagnosed with the virus they worked with Australian health agencies to assure that the movie production remains safe.

‘We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production on the Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus),’ said a spokesperson.

‘We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.

‘The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment.’