The film will mix live-action and stop-motion animation, bringing both historical and fictional characters to life in a haunting, imaginative way. Production is set in London, with Tom Hanks also serving as a producer through his Playtone label.
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Tom Hanks has a new title to add to his Hollywood resume: President of the United States. The 2x Oscar winner is stepping into uncharted territory by playing Abraham Lincoln in an unusual twist of live-action and stop-motion animation. Yes, you read that right. Hanks is about to become Honest Abe… in animated form.
Hanks has portrayed countless historical icons and real-life heroes, from pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to the legendary Walt Disney. But somehow, the Oval Office has eluded him until now.
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In Starburns Industries’ upcoming project ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’, Hanks will bring Lincoln to life, depicting the president who abolished slavery and steered America through the turmoil of the Civil War.
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The film is based on George Saunders’ 2017 Booker Prize-winning novel, which also topped ‘The New York Times’ bestseller list. Saunders himself is adapting the story for the screen.
And joining him behind the camera, according to Deadline’, is none other than Academy Award-nominated director Duke Johnson, known for the stop-motion gem ‘Anomalisa’.
So what makes this Lincoln movie so different? For starters, it’s not your typical historical drama. The film mixes live-action sequences with stop-motion animation, diving deep into one of the most private moments of Lincoln’s life, his grief over his recently deceased 11-year-old son. The story unfolds through an ensemble of characters, blending historical figures with imagined spirits exploring themes of empathy, love, and humanity in the face of sorrow.
Hanks isn’t just acting. He’s producing too through his Playtone label, alongside longtime collaborator Gary Goetzman.
On the production side, Starburns Industries has pulled together a strong team: Duke Johnson, Paul Young, and Devon Young Rabinowitz are producing, while Saunders himself, along with Steven Shareshian and Aaron Mitchell, serve as executive producers. Production is ready to take place in London.
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