Two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks is stepping into new historical territory, taking on the role of Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming adaptation of Lincoln in the Bardo. The project, backed by Starburns Industries, marks the first time Hanks will portray a U.S. president on screen. Hanks will also serve as a producer through his Playtone banner alongside longtime collaborator Gary Goetzman.
The film is based on the acclaimed novel by George Saunders, a New York Times bestseller and 2017 Booker Prize winner. Saunders is adapting his own book for the screen. Directing and producing is Oscar-nominated filmmaker Duke Johnson, known for Anomalisa. Production is scheduled to begin in London and will be the first project to move forward under Starburns’ newly launched film fund.
While Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War and his role in ending slavery have frequently been depicted on screen, notably in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (which earned Daniel Day-Lewis an Oscar), this adaptation takes a far more intimate approach. Rather than focusing on the battlefield or political milestones, the story centers on the president’s grief following the death of his 11-year-old son.
Blending live-action with stop-motion animation, the film will explore “themes of love, empathy and human capacity in the face of unimaginable grief.” The narrative unfolds through a wide-ranging ensemble of characters, both living and dead, historical and imagined, offering a deeply personal lens on one of America’s most studied leaders.
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