As part of its programming commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, the History Channel recently unveiled a new 20-part documentary series on World War II. The immense project will be narrated by Tom Hanks and premiere on Memorial Day.
While the History Channel has produced and aired plenty of World War II documentaries in the past, this new series will “reexamine the war through the lens of a new century” and “capture the full arc of the war — from the rise of fascism in Europe to the fall of Berlin, from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima, and the uneasy peace that follows.”
Hanks explained why the documentary series was so important in a statement to Hearst Networks.
“During my formative years, every single adult in my life would make references to two words: The War,” Hanks said. “The lasting effects of WWII on the world and my own family were not lost on me. I am thrilled to partner with the History Channel to produce this all-encompassing series with a long form format that will give us the ability to tell this important piece of history in its entirety.”
Hanks famously starred in Saving Private Ryan, the epic 1998 film remembered most for its hyper-realistic depiction of D-Day in the opening scene. Hanks also played the role of a U.S. Navy commander hunting Nazi U-boats in the 2020 film Greyhound and served as the executive producer for Band of Brothers (2001) about the men of the 101st Airborne Division and The Pacific (2010), which chronicled the story of U.S. Marines in the fight against Imperial Japan.
A synopsis for the documentary explained that the series will explore “the human cost of total war, including the Holocaust, civilian resistance, and life on the home fronts, while also revealing the hidden wars of espionage, codebreaking, and industrial might that shaped the outcome of the conflict,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. The documentary will touch on the actions of pivotal wartime leaders, including “Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Erwin Rommel, Joseph Stalin, Hideki Tojo, and Adolf Hitler.”
The History Channel recently released a trailer for the documentary showing Hanks speaking over meticulously restored footage from World War II. In the trailer, Hanks calls the war “the largest event in human history.”
The first three episodes of the documentary will release on May 25. A+E Global Media holds the worldwide distribution rights to the show and explained in a statement that the series is “part of the HISTORY Honors 250 campaign.”
“Leading up to the landmark 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in July 2026, The HISTORY Channel is marking this historic milestone with HISTORY Honors 250, a dynamic, multiplatform initiative spanning nearly two years. The epic commemoration includes long-form and short-form programming, digital and social content, custom partnerships, premium events, and more,” A+E Global Media stated.
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