Summary

• Tom Hanks makes a small, unnoticed cameo in the miniseries Band of Brothers, adding to the enjoyment for fans who rewatch the show.
• Hanks' appearance in Band of Brothers is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment among the crowd of Red Devils, highlighting his commitment to the project.
• Hanks and Steven Spielberg collaborated on the Band of Brothers companion series The Pacific and are working on the upcoming miniseries Masters of the Air, showing their enduring interest in World War II stories.

The Tom Hanks Band of Brothers is not easy to spot but is a nice Easter egg for fans of the miniseries. Band of Brothers was released in 2001 on HBO with Hanks and Steven Spielberg producing this look at the real-life accounts of Easy Company during World War II. Though Spielberg solely served as a producer, Hanks went on to direct an episode while also appearing in a small role. The miniseries remains popular more than two decades later with plenty of fans rewatching it which makes it easier to spot the Tom Hanks Band of Brothers cameo

Band of Brothers features a number of actors who are now stars, but were little-known at the time: James McAvoy plays an Easy Company replacement called James Miller; Tom Hardy plays Private John Janovec towards the end of the series; and Michael Fassbender appears throughout as Technical Sergeant Burton Christenson. However, Hanks was the biggest name in the cast even if his appearance was so small that most fans had no idea the Oscar winner appeared on screen in Band of Brothers.

Who Tom Hanks Played In Band Of Brothers

The Tom Hanks Band of Brothers cameo is midway through "Crossroads," after Easy Company has been tasked with rescuing 130 Red Devils (a British Army parachute regiment) who have been trapped by German forces. Hanks doesn't have any lines, but he can be seen among the crowd of Red Devils in the scene where the brigadier general is giving a toast to Easy Company's heroics. The Band of Brothers episode gives no hint about Hanks' appearance and doesn't focus on the actor at all, allowing the cameo to remain a small detail fans were able to spot on rewatches.

Tom Hanks & Steven Spielberg Collaborated On The Band Of Brothers Companion Show

The Tom Hanks Band of Brothers cameo is a fun inclusion though not one repeated in the miniseries' spiritual sequel The Pacific. Hanks and Spielberg went on to produce the 2010 Band of Brothers companion series The Pacific, which is also set during World War II and focuses on the United States Marine Corps' battles in the Pacific Theater. The upcoming Masters of the Air will focus on the "bomber boys" of the American Eighth Air Force. The show's cast includes Callum Turner, Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan, and Freddy Carter. Cary Joji Fukunaga will direct the first three episodes of the miniseries.

Two decades on, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers are still regarded as two of the best and most immersive depictions of World War II on film, and it's a period of history that Hanks has a deep interest in. Hanks is once again staying behind the camera for Masters of the Air rather than starring in it, but it may well be worth keeping an eye on the background when the show releases - just in case he sneaks in for another cameo.

Tom Hanks Has Another World War II Film

The Tom Hanks Band of Brothers cameo was not the actor's final World War II role as he returned to the genre in the Apple movie Greyhound. Once again showing Hanks' interest in the subject matter, Greyhound marks only the third movie he has written in his career. Directed by Aaron Schneider, Greyhound stars Hanks as the inexperienced commander of the convoy of Allied ships making a dangerous crossing with German submarines all around them.

Though the movie didn't get as much attention as the other WWII projects, it is still a riveting entry into the genre. Greyhound is based on a true story, and unsurprisingly, Hanks is dedicated to authenticity. He also gives a reserved performance as a man who is not only putting himself in great danger but is responsible for the lives of countless others. It makes for a thrilling ride that fits alongside Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan as one of Hanks' great WWII movies.