AceShowbiz - Tom Hanks is returning to World War II storytelling with an upcoming documentary series titled World War II with Tom Hanks, scheduled to premiere on the History Channel this Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026.

Throughout his career, Tom Hanks has demonstrated a deep interest in the Second World War, starring in films like Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan (1998) and co-producing acclaimed miniseries such as HBO’s Band of Brothers (2001), HBO’s The Pacific (2010), and Apple TV’s Masters of the Air (2024). World War II with Tom Hanks continues this legacy by revisiting the global conflict with a fresh and contemporary perspective.

The series will feature 20 episodes and promises “a sweeping and definitive retelling” of the deadliest conflict in history. It will be accessible in 200 territories and presented in 40 languages, aiming to reach a worldwide audience. According to the official synopsis, the documentary chronicles the war from the initial shock of Germany’s invasion of Poland through the rise and fall of the Axis powers.

World War II with Tom Hanks will explore major battles fought on multiple fronts — including Stalingrad, Normandy, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific jungles and islands. The series also highlights the human cost of total war, covering the Holocaust, civilian resistance movements, and life on the home fronts during the conflict.

In addition to the well-known military campaigns, the documentary delves into the lesser-known aspects of the war, such as espionage, codebreaking, and industrial efforts that influenced the outcome. It blends the strategic decisions of key wartime leaders — including Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Erwin Rommel, Joseph Stalin, Hideki Tojo, and Adolf Hitler — with the personal experiences of soldiers and civilians around the world.

The narrative culminates with the dawn of the atomic age and the tense postwar period that transformed allies into Cold War adversaries, providing a comprehensive and deeply human portrait of a conflict that reshaped modern history.

The production team behind the series includes Tom Hanks as a producer alongside Gary Goetzman, who has also produced Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Masters of the Air, and Greyhound, all projects associated with Hanks. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham is also a producer, lending his expertise to ensure historical accuracy. The involvement of the National WWII Museum further strengthens the series’ factual foundation.

Alongside this documentary, Tom Hanks is actively working on a follow-up to his 2020 Apple TV+ film Greyhound. He is both starring in and writing the sequel, which began filming in February 2026 with Aaron Schneider returning as director. The cast will feature Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue reprising their roles, with Jack Patten joining the ensemble.

The upcoming Greyhound sequel will follow Commander Ernest Krause, portrayed by Tom Hanks, and his crew as they move from the Normandy beaches to the Pacific Ocean, continuing their efforts to turn the tide of World War II. This project complements the documentary series, highlighting Hanks’ ongoing commitment to bringing the stories of World War II to contemporary audiences.

With World War II with Tom Hanks premiering this May, viewers can anticipate a detailed, engaging, and multi-faceted exploration of one of history’s most significant events, told through the lens of one of Hollywood’s most respected figures in war storytelling.