Los Angeles, February 23 – Tom Hanks will portray Abraham Lincoln in a forthcoming film adaptation of George Saunders’ novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, it was announced Monday. The project marks the first time Hanks will take on the role of a U.S. President.
Hanks will also produce the film through his production company, Playtone, alongside partner Gary Goetzman, according to reports. The adaptation will be a unique blend of live-action and stop-motion animation, exploring themes of love, empathy, and grief, and will feature both historical and fictional characters.
The film is based on Saunders’ 2017 Booker Prize-winning novel, which centers on Lincoln’s emotional response to the death of his 11-year-old son, Willie. Saunders is adapting the novel for the screen, and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Duke Johnson (Anomalisa) is set to direct and produce.
Production is scheduled to take place in London, with Starburns Industries overseeing the project. The film will employ a combination of live-action, featuring Hanks as Lincoln, and stop-motion animation to depict the “bardo,” a Tibetan Buddhist concept of an intermediate state between death and rebirth, which forms a key element of the novel’s narrative.
Hanks, a descendant of Lincoln, has previously portrayed numerous historical figures, including pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Walt Disney, but has not previously embodied a president of the United States. The project represents the first film to enter production following Starburns Industries’ recent announcement of a new film fund.
Steven Shareshian, Aaron Mitchell, and George Saunders will serve as executive producers. Hanks is represented by CAA and Greenberg Glusker.
