Although Spielberg was heavily involved in the film's final script, he didn't start it off. The first draft of 'Saving Private Ryan' is the work of screenwriter Robert Rodan, who'd sent it to several top Hollywood names in the hope of getting his project made. One of them was Steven Spielberg, who received it through his agent and of course loved it. Another of them was Tom Hanks.
After being unable to land Mel Gibson or Harrison Ford, Spielberg found out that Hanks was reading the same script at the same time as him. He contacted Hanks to find out what he thought of it, and after discovering that Hanks was just as keen to get the movie made as he was, they agreed to work together and turn the dream into reality. Thus, one of Hollywood's great partnerships was formed.