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Oscar winner Tom Hanks is set to portray President Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming film adaptation of Lincoln in the Bardo, based on the bestselling novel by George Saunders. The project is being developed by Starburns Industries and marks a significant new chapter in Hanks’ long career of bringing real life figures to the screen.
In addition to starring as the 16th President of the United States, Hanks will produce the film through his Playtone banner alongside his longtime partner Gary Goetzman. George Saunders, who wrote the original novel, is adapting his own work for the screen. Oscar nominated filmmaker Duke Johnson, known for Anomalisa, will direct and produce the film. Production is set to take place in London and is the first project to move forward under Starburns Industries’ newly announced film fund.
While Abraham Lincoln’s presidency has often been portrayed in film and television, this adaptation takes a more intimate approach. Rather than focusing on Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War or the abolition of slavery, Lincoln in the Bardo centers on his grief following the death of his 11 year old son. The story explores the emotional toll of personal loss against the backdrop of national crisis. Through this lens, the film will examine themes of love, empathy and the human capacity to endure unimaginable sorrow.
The production will combine stop motion animation and live action to bring Saunders’ unique narrative to life. The novel itself is known for its inventive structure and its ensemble of voices, including both historical and imagined figures. The film aims to capture that same layered storytelling style by blending living and deceased characters in a visually distinctive way.
This role marks the first time Hanks will portray a United States President in a feature film. However, he is no stranger to playing prominent real life figures. Over the years, he has portrayed astronaut Jim Lovell in Apollo 13, pilot Chesley Sully Sullenberger in Sully, Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee in The Post, Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Walt Disney in Saving Mr Banks. Although he previously narrated and hosted the 2013 docudrama Killing Lincoln, this is his first time stepping directly into the role of Lincoln himself. It is also notable that Hanks and Lincoln are distant relatives on Lincoln’s maternal side.
Johnson will produce the film alongside Paul Young and Devon Young Rabinowitz for Starburns Industries. Steven Shareshian, Aaron Mitchell and Saunders will serve as executive producers. Hanks is represented by CAA and Greenberg Glusker.
With a respected creative team and a deeply human story at its center, Lincoln in the Bardo promises to offer a thoughtful and emotionally resonant portrait of one of America’s most studied leaders. By focusing on Lincoln not only as a president but as a grieving father, the film seeks to present a side of the historical figure that audiences have rarely seen on screen.
