For over two decades, Tom Hanks has established himself as a dedicated storyteller of World War II, contributing significantly to Hollywood's portrayal of the conflict. His involvement ranges from producing acclaimed series like Band of Brothers and The Pacific to starring in films such as Greyhound, consistently returning to the defining global conflict of the 20th century.

Hanks is now set to revisit this monumental period with television's most ambitious WWII project in years. The History Channel has announced a massive new documentary series titled World War II with Tom Hanks. This extensive series will span 20 episodes and is scheduled for a global launch across 200 territories and in 40 languages. The network describes it as a "sweeping and definitive retelling" of the deadliest conflict in human history, aiming to provide a comprehensive and deeply human portrait of the war that reshaped the modern world.

The documentary series is designed to trace the entire arc of the Second World War, commencing with the Invasion of Poland, the pivotal event when Nazi Germany initiated the attack that ignited the global conflict. From this starting point, the series meticulously tracks the rise and fall of the Axis powers and details the brutal battles fought across multiple theaters of war. According to its official synopsis, the narrative will journey from iconic clashes, including the Battle of Stalingrad and the Normandy landings, to the broader global conflict that extended across the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific.

Beyond military engagements, World War II with Tom Hanks will focus on the wartime decisions made by several pivotal leaders whose choices profoundly shaped the course of history. Figures explored in the series include prominent political and military leaders such as Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Joseph Stalin, Erwin Rommel, Hideki Tojo, and Adolf Hitler. The series also delves into the human cost of total war, examining the Holocaust, the resilience of civilian resistance movements, and daily life on the home fronts. Furthermore, it reveals the hidden wars of espionage, crucial codebreaking efforts, and the industrial might that were instrumental in determining the outcome of the conflict.

The documentary culminates with the dawn of the atomic age and the uneasy aftermath that transformed wartime allies into Cold War adversaries. By blending the actions and decisions of these pivotal leaders with the lived experiences of soldiers and civilians across continents, the series offers a nuanced and complete understanding of the monumental events. World War II with Tom Hanks is scheduled to premiere on Memorial Day.