Sideshow: Tom Hanks, literature-type writer sort of guy

Seems James Franco and Snooki aren't the only celebs who know how to write stories and poems and books and such. Tom Hanks, 58, the only human on the planet it is impossible to dislike (even we can't help but adore the perennial movie good guy), has signed with Alfred A. Knopf to publish a collection of his short stories. Hanks, who recently published a yarn in the New Yorker, says each story is inspired by a piece from his extensive collection of typewriters.

"The stories are not about the typewriters themselves," Hanks says in a statement, "but rather, the stories are something that might have been written on one of them."

Is he afraid of being compared to Ashton Kutcher? The Hollywood Reporter says Christian Bale has pulled out of the Aaron Sorkin-scripted biopic about computer genius Steve Jobs that Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Trainspotting) is set to direct. Kutcher played Jobs in a biopic last year helmed by Joshua Michael Stern.

In light of Friday's Virgin Galactic spacecraft crash, how many of the more than 500 celebs who bought a seat on Richard Branson's ships plan to stick with the flight plan?

Ticket holders include Ashton Kutcher, Katy Perry, Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber, Russell Brand, Lady Gaga, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie.

"For privacy reasons we cannot disclose specific names of those who requested refunds," reps from Virgin Galactic told USA Today.

Guess no one in America was good enough for the sight: Wissam Al Mana's wife Janet Jackson made her first public appearance in 18 months Friday at a fashion do in Dubai. . . . Horror pic Ouija and the Jake Gyllenhaal thriller Nightcrawler tied for first place in box office sales this week, raking in $10.9 mil each, according to studio estimates. Fury is at No. 3 with $9.1 mil.

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