Tom Hanks To Play Abraham Lincoln In Starburns Industries’ ‘Lincoln In The Bardo’; Playtone Producing

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Hanks has played many characters in period movies, along with real-life personalities including pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Walt Disney, but never a U.S. president — until now. The two-time Oscar winner is set to play Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, in Starburns Industries’ live-action/stop-motion animation hybrid movie Lincoln in the Bardo based on George Saunders’ New York Times bestseller and 2017 Booker Prize winner.

Hanks also will produce through his Playtone label with partner Gary Goetzman.

In the movie, Hanks will portray a live-action version of Lincoln, who made his mark in history by abolishing slavery and leading the U.S. through the Civil War. Production will take place in London.

As we told you first, Saunders is adapting his novel for the big screen, with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Duke Johnson (Anomalisa) set to direct and produce. Lincoln in the Bardo is the first Starburns project to go into production since the studio announced its film fund earlier this month.

Lincoln in the Bardo will employ a unique blend of stop-motion animation and live action to explore one of the most intimate moments of Lincoln’s life, centering on his relationship with his recently deceased 11-year-old son  The movie will explore themes of love, empathy and human capacity in the face of grief as the story unfolds through an ensemble of characters, both living and dead, historical and invented.

Johnson, Paul Young and Devon Young Rabinowitz are producing for Starburns Industries. Steven Shareshian, Aaron Mitchell and Saunders will serve as EPs.

Hanks is repped by CAA and Greenberg Glusker.