Tom Hanks, winner of two Oscars and four Golden Globes for acting, is firmly established as cinematic royalty. Now, he’s set to make his first major foray into the literary universe, joining other actors who have written fiction, including James Franco (“Palo Alto’’). Steve Martin (“Shopgirl’’ and “An Object of Beauty’’), and David Duchovny (“Bucky [Expletive] Dent’’). Publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced Monday that it will release a collection of Hanks’s short stories in October.

Titled “Uncommon Type,’’ the book will be made up of 17 different tales, each involving a typewriter in some way (Hanks is the proud owner of more than 100 vintage typewriters). The narratives will range from an immigrant fleeing his war-torn country for New York City to the trials of a bowler who suddenly becomes famous thanks to a streak of perfect games.

Although this will be Hanks’s debut book, the actor isn’t a total newcomer to writing. Knopf editor in chief Sonny Mehta first approached Hanks about the project after reading a short story of his that was published in The New Yorker in October 2014. “[I] was struck by both his remarkable voice and command as a writer,’’ said Mehta in a press release. “I had hoped there might be more stories in the works. Happily for readers, it turns out there were.’’

While Hanks is not widely known as a fiction writer, he does have a number of writing credits in TV and movies, including work on the television miniseries “Band of Brothers’’ and 2011 feature film “Larry Crowne.’’

Hanks apparently banged out the short stories in whatever free time he had over the past couple of years. “I wrote in hotels during press tours. I wrote on vacation. I wrote on planes, at home, and in the office,’’ he said in a statement. “When I could actually make a schedule, and keep to it, I wrote in the mornings from nine to one.’’Alex Frandsen

Han Solo filming starts

The Han Solo ‘‘Star Wars’’ spinoff has begun production. The Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday that shooting began at London’s Pinewood Studios on Monday. To kick off the untitled Han Solo movie, the studio released a photo of the cast at the controls of the Millennium Falcon. Alden Ehrenreich plays a younger version of Harrison Ford’s iconic smuggler and is seated amid cast members including Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Donald Glover, who plays Lando Calrissian. The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who helmed ‘‘The Lego Movie.’’ Disney will release the film in May 2018. (AP)

Brown must avoid his ex

A judge has ordered R&B singer Chris Brown to stay away from his ex-girlfriend after she accused him of physically abusing and threatening her. The Grammy winner was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Karrueche Tran and not attempt to contact her after she wrote in court filings that Brown had repeatedly threatened her since December. The order, which was issued Friday, also calls for Brown to surrender any firearms he has until a March 9 hearing on the restraining order. An e-mail sent to Brown’s attorney was not immediately returned. Brown and Tran dated after the singer pleaded guilty to felony assault for an attack on Rihanna in 2009 just hours before the Grammy Awards. (AP)

Kotb adopts a baby girl

Hoda Kotb, who was understandably missing from the ‘‘Today’’ show on Tuesday, called in to break some news with a photo of her week-old adopted baby, Haley Joy. ‘‘You have a new hairdo,’’ joked Matt Lauer, who along with Kathie Lee Gifford were the only ‘‘Today’’ show personalities privy to the news before Kotb’s reveal. (Washington Post)

Alex Frandsen can be reached at alexander.frandsen@globe.com.