Legendary actor Tom Hanks has long been captivated by World War II, a conflict he describes as having profoundly shaped the modern world. Over two decades, Hanks has consistently returned to this defining period of the 20th century, dedicating a significant portion of his career to illuminating its stories both in front of and behind the camera.

Beyond his acclaimed acting performances, Hanks has also served as a prolific producer for several esteemed World War II-based series. These include the critically acclaimed "Band of Brothers," "The Pacific," and most recently, Apple TV’s "Masters of the Air," all of which have garnered widespread recognition for their meticulous historical detail and powerful storytelling.

As an actor, Hanks has immersed himself in various facets of the war. In the 2020 feature film "Greyhound," he portrayed Captain Ernest Krause, leading an armada of Allied ships through the perilous Atlantic theater. His role in the 1992 film "A League of Their Own" offered a different perspective, with Hanks embodying Jimmy Dugan, a coach in the All-American Girls Baseball League that thrived during 1943 while many American men were serving overseas. Perhaps his most iconic portrayal remains his role in the 1998 film "Saving Private Ryan," which depicted the brutal realities of combat and the D-Day landings.

Now, Hanks is set to deepen his connection to this historical period with a massive new documentary series titled "World War II with Tom Hanks." This ambitious project, developed in collaboration with the History Channel, promises a comprehensive and definitive retelling of the deadliest and most consequential conflict in human history. The series is slated to span an impressive 20 episodes and will launch globally across 200 territories and in 40 languages, reaching a vast international audience. Its premiere date is scheduled for May 25.

The documentary aims to cover the entirety of the Second World War, from its genesis with the union of the Axis Powers and the Invasion of Poland, which ignited the global conflict, through to its conclusion. It will explore the multiple theaters of war that opened up across land, air, and sea, detailing the brutal battles and pivotal moments witnessed therein. The narrative will interweave the experiences of soldiers on the front lines with the critical wartime decisions made by some of history’s most influential leaders.

Key figures who will be highlighted in the series include Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Joseph Stalin, Erwin Rommel, Hideki Tojo, and Adolf Hitler. The documentary will also revisit iconic clashes such as the Battle of Stalingrad and the Normandy landings, extending its scope to encompass the broader global conflict stretching across the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific. "World War II with Tom Hanks" is poised to offer viewers an unparalleled deep dive into a pivotal era, guided by one of Hollywood's most dedicated historians of the conflict.