How did Tom get his role in "The Postman"?

[G. Gordon Gordon]

How did Tom get his role in "The Postman"--the Kevin Costner epic(?)
from 1997? Has anyone read the book by David Brin which the movie was
based on? Was Tom Petty a character in the book? I believe the book
was written in the mid 80's and the story was to have taken place in
the late 90's (the movie took place in 2013, since it came out in the
90's). My grlfrnd and I have debated whether Tom was supposed to be
Tom in the movie--Costner only tells Tom's character (Bridge City
mayor) that he was "famous once". And since Tom would be 63 in 2013,
and doesn't look that old in the movie, maybe he was supposed to be
someone else.... Anyhow, if anyone has read the book, and knows more,
or anyone else would know why Tom suddenly took up acting since his
only acting experience before was lip-syncing his own songs for music
videos, let me know....Maybe Costner is a fan, too???

[OSher44164]

I've read the David Brin book, "The Postman", there is no character in the book
that Tom's part was based on. The book is very different from the movie. I
believe that Tom was supposed to be Tom in the movie(he just ages well).

The part that Tom plays in the movie was apparently written into the
screenplay, and Kevin Cosner and the movie producer thought that Tom would be
great for the part. I remember reading that they like the idea that Tom's face
is familiar (and with alot of character) without being over-exposed.

Jo
Jo