Ordinarily, we don’t comment on all of the military-themed flicks destined for both the small and large screen unless they are of particular significance to the average enthusiast. In the case of actor, Tom Hanks, he’s agreed to both host and narrate a lengthy 20-part mini series covering the entire scope of the Second World War. Hanks is no stranger to WWII, having produced and starred in a number of pet projects from Greyhound to Saving Private Ryan. He also helped to dedicate the National World War II Museum and played an integral role in the making of the 4-D film Beyond all Boundaries, which has been updated and currently plays in the Solomon Victory Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana.
WWII with Tom Hanks was ordered by The HISTORY® Channel back in 2024 in conjunction with the A+E Factual StudiosTM group and Nutopia. With the 250th anniversary of the formation of the US set for 2026, its a good bet that the series will likely begin to air either Memorial Day or no later than July 4th. Its not clear how long each episode will run and whether or not they will be scheduled to air on a weekly basis so that it culminates near the end of 2026. For more information on the series, you can visit this link.
It’s fascinating to see Hanks take on such a broad project that covers the entire scope of WWII, especially given how deeply he’s already connected himself to this era through films and museum work. I’ll be curious to see whether the series emphasizes lesser-known aspects of the war, like the Pacific campaigns or the home front, rather than just the familiar European battles we usually see highlighted.