Tom Hanks' Wild 2026 Projects Will Blow Your Mind
Tom Hanks' 2026 lineup appears to center on three major projects: the Apple war sequel Greyhound follow-up, Pixar's Toy Story 5, and a History Channel WWII series he is attached to as host/narrator and executive producer. The clearest confirmed 2026 release-facing title is Toy Story 5, while the Greyhound sequel is expected to begin filming in January 2026 and the WWII documentary series is in pre-production.
What's ahead in 2026
Tom Hanks is entering 2026 with a slate that leans heavily on legacy franchises and World War II storytelling, two lanes that have defined much of his later-career profile. Reported production and release timing suggests a mix of theatrical voice work, streaming prestige, and historical nonfiction content, rather than a single marquee live-action lead role. The projects most consistently surfaced in recent reporting are Tom Hanks projects tied to Apple, Disney/Pixar, and History.
- Greyhound sequel for Apple: reported to begin filming in January 2026 in Sydney, Australia, with Hanks returning as Captain Krause and writing the screenplay.
- Toy Story 5: Pixar's next installment is reported to land in June 2026, with Hanks back as Woody.
- World War II with Tom Hanks: a 20-episode History Channel series is reported in pre-production, with Hanks hosting and narrating.
Project tracker
The schedule below summarizes the most cited 2026 items associated with Hanks, based on recent entertainment reporting. It separates what appears to be production timing from what is more likely to be an on-screen release, because those are not always the same thing in Hollywood. In other words, release timing and filming timing should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Project | Format | Hanks' role | Reported 2026 timing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greyhound sequel | Feature film | Actor, screenwriter | Filming starts January 2026 | In development / production start reported |
| Toy Story 5 | Animated film | Voice of Woody | June 2026 release cited in reporting | In production |
| World War II with Tom Hanks | Documentary series | Host, narrator, executive producer | 2026 rollout possible, exact date unconfirmed | Pre-production |
Greyhound sequel details
The most substantial live-action project linked to Hanks in 2026 is the Greyhound sequel, which is being reported as an Apple film that will begin production in January 2026. Hanks is expected to reprise Captain Krause, and the new story is described as moving from the Atlantic theater to D-Day and the Pacific campaign, which gives the sequel a larger wartime scope than the 2020 original. Aaron Schneider is reported to return as director, and Hanks is also said to have written the screenplay, reinforcing that this is not just a star vehicle but a personal creative follow-up.
"The next chapter in the Greyhound saga will follow Krause and the Greyhound crew from the beaches of Normandy to the ocean in the Pacific."
That premise matters because it signals a broader historical canvas and a more ambitious production design than the first film. The reported Sydney shoot also fits the kind of international logistics Apple has used for large-scale original features. For audiences, this makes the sequel the most clearly defined Hanks film underway for 2026, even though a release date has not yet been publicly locked.
Toy Story return
Toy Story 5 is the most commercially visible item on Hanks' 2026 calendar because it brings him back to Woody, one of the most recognizable animated characters in modern film history. Recent reporting places the movie in the 2026 release window, with some sources citing June 19, 2026, though studio timing can still shift before opening weekend. The sequel's story is said to focus on children's attachment to electronic gadgets, which gives Pixar a contemporary angle while preserving the franchise's emotional core.
Hanks' return as Woody matters beyond nostalgia because the character remains a global brand asset with enormous four-quadrant reach. The Pixar sequel should also benefit from intergenerational appeal: parents who grew up with the films, children meeting the franchise for the first time, and streaming viewers who keep Pixar titles in long-tail rotation. Even before release, it is one of the clearest indicators that Hanks remains central to family entertainment in 2026.
- Woody returns as the emotional anchor of the story.
- Buzz Lightyear and Jessie are expected to join the ensemble.
- The plot reportedly addresses competition from tablets and other gadgets.
- The franchise's brand value continues to make it a global box-office event.
History series angle
The third major project linked to Hanks is a 20-episode History Channel series focused on World War II. Reporting describes Hanks as host, narrator, and executive producer, which places him squarely in the documentary and historical storytelling lane he has increasingly occupied through films, series, and producing. The project reportedly uses archival footage and new scholarship, suggesting a serious nonfiction presentation rather than a celebrity vanity series.
This move fits the long arc of Hanks' career, especially his recurring interest in wartime narratives and American history. He has spent years building a reputation as a dependable interpreter of military and civic history, and this series appears designed to extend that reputation into long-form television. The documentary series could also become one of his most educational mainstream projects if it reaches the screen in 2026.
Why these matter
Tom Hanks' 2026 slate is notable because it combines three different audience lanes: theatrical family animation, prestige war drama, and historical nonfiction. That combination is rare for an actor at his career stage and suggests that Hanks is not slowing down so much as refining his output toward projects with durable audience value. The pattern also reflects the entertainment economy of 2026, where known IP, trusted talent, and platform-specific originals are more bankable than risky mid-budget star vehicles.
From a career perspective, these projects reinforce a practical truth: Hanks remains one of the few performers whose name can still anchor both nostalgia and seriousness. The film slate is not just about volume; it is about strategic positioning across formats and generations. That is one reason these titles continue to attract attention even before trailers or full release campaigns emerge.
What is confirmed
Because entertainment development changes quickly, the safest way to read Hanks' 2026 slate is to separate firm reporting from still-fluid plans. The strongest reported items are the Greyhound sequel production start, Hanks' return in Toy Story 5, and the History Channel WWII project in pre-production. Those are the projects that most directly answer the question of what Tom Hanks is doing in 2026.
There are also occasional reports about other possible projects and cameo-style involvements, but they are less consistently sourced and should be treated cautiously. The most defensible takeaway is that 2026 will likely feature Hanks in at least one major voice role, one major war drama, and one historical television initiative. In terms of upcoming projects, that makes 2026 one of his busiest recent years.
Background context
Hanks has spent decades balancing crowd-pleasing studio work with prestige material, and his 2026 slate reflects that balance more sharply than ever. The combination of Pixar, Apple, and History shows how his career now operates across theatrical, streaming, and documentary ecosystems at once. That cross-platform reach is part of why a headline about Tom Hanks 2026 still draws immediate attention from readers and search engines alike.
The bigger story is not simply that he has projects coming; it is that those projects are strategically legible, highly brandable, and rooted in recognizable audience trust. A war sequel, a toy franchise, and a WWII documentary may sound different on paper, but together they form a coherent Hanks identity: dependable, earnest, and built around American history and family storytelling. That identity is exactly what makes his upcoming work worth tracking closely in 2026.
What are the most common questions about Tom Hanks Wild 2026 Projects Will Blow Your Mind?
Is Tom Hanks in Toy Story 5?
Yes, reporting indicates that Tom Hanks returns as Woody in Toy Story 5, with a 2026 release window cited by multiple entertainment outlets. The movie is expected to focus on the clash between classic toys and kids' digital gadgets.
What is the Greyhound sequel about?
The reported Greyhound sequel follows Captain Krause and his crew from Normandy to the Pacific theater, expanding the World War II scope of the first film. Hanks is expected to star and write the screenplay.
Will Tom Hanks host a WWII series in 2026?
Yes, reporting says a 20-episode History Channel series called World War II with Tom Hanks is in pre-production, with Hanks attached as host, narrator, and executive producer. The exact launch date has not been publicly fixed.
Which Tom Hanks project is most likely to release first?
Toy Story 5 appears to be the clearest 2026 release, while the Greyhound sequel is reported to begin filming in January 2026 and may arrive later. The History Channel series may also land in 2026, but its rollout remains less certain.