Two-time Oscar winner
Tom Hanks is set to star as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, in the upcoming live-action/stop-motion animation hybrid movie
"Lincoln in the Bardo" from Starburns Industries. The film will be directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker
Duke Johnson (
"Anomalisa") from a screenplay by author
George Saunders based on his own New York Times bestseller and 2017 Booker Prize winner.
Set in 1862, it follows a grief-stricken Abraham Lincoln as he visits the Georgetown cemetery crypt of his young son, Willie, who has just died. Trapped in a supernatural "bardo" - a Tibetan intermediate state between life and death - Willie is surrounded by ghosts, including Hans Vollman and Roger Bevins III, who try to help him move on before he is permanently trapped. The narrative explores themes of grief, love, and loss through a chorus of ghostly, often humorous voices.
Hanks will appear as a live-action version of Lincoln, and will also produce through his Playtone label with partner
Gary Goetzman. Production will take place in London.
"Lincoln in the Bardo" is the first project from Starburns Industries to go into production since the studio announced its film fund earlier this month.
Johnson,
Paul Young and
Devon Young Rabinowitz are producing for Starburns Industries.
Steven Shareshian, Aaron Mitchell and Saunders will serve as executive producers.
