Tom Hanks Takes on Abraham Lincoln in Groundbreaking ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ Adaptation

In a casting announcement that’s sending shockwaves through Hollywood, Tom Hanks has signed on to portray President Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming live-action/stop-motion hybrid film Lincoln in the Bardo. The project, based on George Saunders’ acclaimed 2017 novel—which topped the New York Times bestseller list and clinched the prestigious Booker Prize—marks Hanks’ first time embodying the 16th U.S. president on screen, despite his distant familial connection to Lincoln through his mother’s lineage.

The revelation came via major outlets like Deadline and Variety on February 23, 2026, with production already underway in London. Hanks will appear in the film’s live-action segments as Lincoln, while the narrative unfolds through a unique blend of live performance and intricate stop-motion animation. Directed and co-produced by Duke Johnson—the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind the innovative Anomalisa—the movie promises an intimate exploration of grief, love, and empathy.

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Film star Tom Hanks | CNN

At the heart of the story is one of the most personal tragedies in Lincoln’s life: the death of his 11-year-old son, Willie, in 1862 amid the Civil War. The novel, narrated by an ensemble of ghosts (both historical and invented) in a Georgetown cemetery’s “bardo”—a liminal Tibetan Buddhist state between death and rebirth—centers on Lincoln’s nocturnal visit to his son’s crypt, where he mourns and interacts with the spectral inhabitants. Saunders himself is adapting the screenplay alongside Johnson, ensuring fidelity to the book’s experimental, polyphonic style.

According to Deadline, the film “will employ a unique blend of stop-motion animation and live action to explore one of the most intimate moments of Lincoln’s life, centering on his relationship with his recently deceased 11-year-old son. The movie will explore themes of love, empathy and human capacity in the face of grief as the story unfolds through an ensemble of characters, both living and dead, historical and invented.”

Hanks, 69, not only stars but also produces through his Playtone banner, alongside regular collaborator Gary Goetzman. This marks a return to heavyweight dramatic territory for the two-time Oscar winner, following roles portraying real-life figures like Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in Sully. Hanks previously narrated and hosted the 2013 docudrama Killing Lincoln, but this is his debut as the man himself.

theatlantic.com

On This Day 150 Years Ago: A Portrait of President Abraham Lincoln – The Atlantic

The hybrid format draws inspiration from Johnson’s work on Anomalisa, a stop-motion tale of isolation that earned critical acclaim for its emotional depth and technical prowess. Fans are already buzzing about how the animation will bring the ghostly chorus to life, contrasting with Hanks’ grounded, live-action Lincoln grieving in the shadows of the cemetery.

A particularly intriguing detail: Hanks is distantly related to Lincoln, tracing back to the president’s mother, Nancy Hanks. This ancestral tie adds a layer of serendipity to the casting, with insiders calling it “perfect poetic justice” for an actor renowned for his everyman empathy.

The announcement has sparked widespread excitement and debate online. Many hail it as a dream pairing—Hanks’ warmth and gravitas meeting one of history’s most revered yet humanized leaders—while others praise the bold stylistic choice. “This could redefine biographical films,” one fan tweeted, echoing sentiments across platforms.

With Saunders’ novel lauded for its “luminous feat of generosity and humanism” (per The New York Times Book Review), expectations are sky-high for the adaptation to capture its profound exploration of loss amid national turmoil. Production in London suggests a meticulous approach to both historical accuracy and animated innovation.

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Lincoln in the Bardo: A Novel – Kindle edition by Saunders, George. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Johnson’s involvement brings proven expertise in blending the mundane with the miraculous through stop-motion, as seen in Anomalisa‘s poignant puppetry. The director’s vision promises to elevate the film’s themes of human connection in the face of unimaginable sorrow.

variety.com

10 Directors to Watch: Duke Johnson on ‘Anomalisa’

As Hollywood grapples with evolving storytelling techniques, Lincoln in the Bardo stands out as a daring fusion of mediums. Hanks’ involvement elevates it further, potentially delivering a performance that humanizes Lincoln in unprecedented ways.

No release date has been announced, but with filming progressing, anticipation is building. This project could not only honor Saunders’ masterpiece but also cement Hanks’ legacy in portraying America’s most iconic figures with depth and heart.