Tom Hanks to play Lincoln in ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ adaptation

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks is set to portray former US president Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming feature adaptation of “Lincoln in the Bardo”, bringing one of contemporary literature’s most unusual historical meditations to the screen.

Directed by Duke Johnson, the project blends live-action filmmaking with stop-motion animation. Production is currently underway in London, with Hanks appearing in live action as the 16th president. The film is being produced under the banner of Starburns Industries, known for its experimental animation work.

Adapted by author George Saunders from his own Booker Prize-winning novel, the story imagines Lincoln’s grief after the death of his 11-year-old son Willie during the American Civil War. Set within a supernatural limbo inspired by Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the narrative explores mourning, memory, and political responsibility through a chorus of restless spirits observing the president’s private anguish.

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Johnson previously earned critical acclaim for co-directing the Oscar-nominated animated feature “Anomalisa”, and the hybrid format of the new project signals a similarly ambitious artistic approach. Producers include Hanks and Gary Goetzman through their company Playtone, alongside Johnson, Paul Young and Devon Young Rabinowitz.

Saunders’ novel received the Booker Prize in 2017 and was widely praised for reshaping historical fiction through experimental form and dark humour. Translating that voice to cinema presents an unusual challenge, particularly given the book’s fragmented narration and large ensemble of spectral characters.

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Hanks remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring screen presences. Recent projects include independent features and franchise work, while he is also set to reprise cowboy Woody in “Toy Story 5”, produced by Pixar for release through The Walt Disney Company later this year. He will additionally appear in the forthcoming World War II drama “Greyhound 2”.

Lincoln’s cultural afterlife has seen renewed attention across film, theatre and television. Actor Hamish Linklater portrayed the president in the Apple TV+ historical drama “Manhunt”, while the Broadway satire “Oh, Mary!” recently revisited the figure through comedy and won multiple Tony Awards.

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Perhaps the most widely recognised cinematic portrayal remains Daniel Day-Lewis’s Oscar-winning performance in Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg. Hanks’ interpretation will inevitably invite comparison, though the tonal ambitions of “Lincoln in the Bardo” suggest a more intimate and philosophical portrait.

Industry observers note that the film arrives amid renewed interest in literary adaptations that experiment formally rather than rely solely on conventional biography. If successful, the project could expand the possibilities of historical storytelling onscreen.