Tom Hanks to Play Abraham Lincoln in 'Lincoln on the Bardo' Movie

The acclaimed actor will portray the 16th U.S. president in the film adaptation of George Saunders' award-winning novel.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Tom Hanks, the two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for playing numerous American heroes on screen, is set to take on his most prestigious historical role yet - portraying Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming film adaptation of George Saunders' bestselling novel 'Lincoln on the Bardo'. The experimental novel, which won the 2017 Booker Prize, centers on the death of Lincoln's young son Willie and the president's grief-stricken visit to his crypt.

Why it matters

Hanks' casting as Lincoln is seen as a perfect fit, given the actor's track record of bringing iconic American figures to life on the big screen. The film adaptation, which will blend live-action and stop-motion animation, is highly anticipated as it explores profound themes of love, empathy and the human capacity for grief through the lens of one of the nation's most revered presidents.

The details

Published in 2017, 'Lincoln on the Bardo' is a unique historical novel that blends fact and fiction, with Lincoln's visit to his son's crypt serving as the emotional core of the story. The book is told through a chorus of voices from the dead, interwoven with excerpts from historical sources. Screenwriter George Saunders will adapt the novel for the film, which will be directed by Duke Johnson, known for the Oscar-nominated animated film 'Anomalisa'.

  • The novel 'Lincoln on the Bardo' was published in 2017 and won the Booker Prize that year.
  • In 2024, The New York Times ranked the book at number 18 on its list of the 100 best books of the 21st century so far.
  • Filming for the movie adaptation is set to take place in London.

The players

Tom Hanks

A two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for playing numerous American heroes on screen, including Mr. Rogers, Astronaut Jim Lovell, and Captain Chesley Sullenberger.

George Saunders

The author of the bestselling novel 'Lincoln on the Bardo', which won the 2017 Booker Prize and has been ranked as one of the best books of the 21st century.

Duke Johnson

The director attached to the film adaptation of 'Lincoln on the Bardo', known for co-directing the Oscar-nominated animated film 'Anomalisa'.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States, whose grief-stricken visit to his son's crypt serves as the emotional core of the 'Lincoln on the Bardo' novel.

Willie Lincoln

The third son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, whose death at the age of 12 in 1862 is the central event that drives the narrative of the 'Lincoln on the Bardo' novel.

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What they’re saying

“The members of my branch of the family are either cousins or in-laws or poor relations. So when I was at school, guess which president I was always doing essays on.”

— Tom Hanks (Ancestry.com)

What’s next

Filming for the 'Lincoln on the Bardo' movie adaptation is set to take place in London, with a hybrid approach of stop-motion animation and live-action to best capture the themes and settings described in the novel.

The takeaway

Tom Hanks' casting as Abraham Lincoln in the film adaptation of the acclaimed novel 'Lincoln on the Bardo' is seen as a perfect fit, given the actor's track record of bringing iconic American figures to life on the big screen. The experimental nature of the source material, blending historical fiction with an innovative narrative structure, promises a unique cinematic exploration of themes of love, empathy and the human capacity for grief.