Tom Hanks to Star in ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’: A Hybrid Vision from Director Duke Johnson

For nearly a decade, fans of George Saunders’ Booker Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo have waited to see how its surreal, polyphonic narrative could ever be translated to the big screen. The answer has finally arrived in a major way: Hollywood icon Tom Hanks is set to portray Abraham Lincoln in a groundbreaking new adaptation from director Duke Johnson (Anomalisa).

The project, which is currently making waves across the industry, promises to be as tonally unique as its source material, blending live-action performances with stop-motion animation to capture the ethereal world of the “bardo.”

A Presidential First for Tom Hanks

Despite a career spanning five decades and dozens of historical roles, this film marks the first time Tom Hanks will portray a U.S. President. Hanks will step into the boots of the 16th President during his most vulnerable hour: February 1862, as he grapples with the death of his 11-year-old son, Willie, while the Civil War rages on.

According to reports from Deadline and World of Reel, Hanks will provide the live-action anchor for the film, while the “chorus of ghosts” that populates the Georgetown cemetery will be brought to life through a mix of digital effects and the intricate, tactile artistry of stop-motion animation.

The Creative Team: Saunders and Johnson

While Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman originally acquired the film rights shortly after the book’s 2017 release, the project has evolved into a powerhouse collaboration under Starburns Industries.

• Director: Duke Johnson, known for his Oscar-nominated work on the psychological stop-motion drama Anomalisa, is at the helm. His expertise in using animation to convey deep, human isolation makes him a natural fit for Saunders’ eccentric afterlife.

• Writer: In a move that will delight literary purists, George Saunders himself is adapting the screenplay and serving as an executive producer.

• Cinematography: The film has enlisted John Mathieson (Gladiator, Logan) as Director of Photography, suggesting a visual scale that matches the intimacy of the story.

What is the “Bardo”?

For those unfamiliar with the novel, the “bardo” refers to a Tibetan Buddhist concept of an intermediate state between death and rebirth. In Saunders’ story, Willie Lincoln finds himself in this transitional realm, surrounded by ghosts who refuse to admit they are dead.

The film will follow Abraham Lincoln as he visits his son’s crypt under the cover of night, unaware that he is being watched and “helped” by a sprawling ensemble of spirits—historical, imagined, comedic, and piteous.

A Banner Year for ‘Bardo’ Fans

The film adaptation isn’t the only way audiences will experience the story in the near future. The “Bardo” is currently seeing a massive cultural resurgence:

• The Met Opera: An opera adaptation by Missy Mazzoli is set to premiere in October 2026.

• Production Status: The Duke Johnson film is currently slated for production in London, with a cast that reportedly includes Andre Holland alongside Hanks.