TOM Hanks is readying himself to produce and star in a Christmas movie based on the children’s book “The Polar Express.”

The book, by author-illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, tells the story of a boy who still believes in Santa Claus despite the skepticism of his friends.

One Christmas Eve, a steam train called the Polar Express pulls up in front of his house and takes him to the North Pole to meet Santa.

Hanks, who will play the train’s conductor, is a big fan of Allsburg, who also wrote the children’s book “Jumanji,” which was adapted into the 1995 Robin Williams blockbuster.

Castle Rock has fast-tracked the movie and hopes to have it in theaters for Christmas 2001.