The World War II miniseries Masters of the Air is currently in development, the third series about the period developed by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, and it should continue a Hanks tradition present in his other World War II shows. It already has an exciting cast, including Elvis actor Austin Butler, Fantastic Beasts actor Callum Turner, and even The Batman's own Joker, Barry Keoghan. After working together on Saving Private Ryan, Hanks and Spielberg decided to use their shared interest in World War II to develop and executive produce a miniseries that further explored the subject.
The first project still holds up today in Band of Brothers, whose quality and realism are still striking. After the massive success and popularity of the 2001 miniseries, Hanks and Spielberg collaborated again to develop The Pacific, which focused on the Marine Corps during the Pacific War. Now the duo is reunited for Apple TV's Masters of the Air, a third World War II series that follows the Air Force.
Tom Hanks Needs A (Small) Role In Masters Of The Air
One notable missing actor from the confirmed cast of Masters of the Air is Tom Hanks. It would seem like a no-brainer to have Hanks in the series, considering that he is one of the most marketable names in Hollywood, especially to the target audience that Masters of the Air is trying to appeal to. However, Tom Hanks didn't star in Band of Brothers or The Pacific. He did have a cameo in both projects, and Masters of the Air needs to continue this tradition by giving Hanks a minor role.
It shouldn't be hard to fit Tom Hanks into the cast of Masters of the Air. The miniseries already has a massive lineup of actors confirmed to appear, with over 50 already signed onto the project. Considering the subject, there are tons of minor roles in the Air Force that Tom Hanks could cameo as. In Band of Brothers, Tom Hanks cameos as a background Red Devil without any lines, and he's only the narrator in The Pacific. These Tom Hanks roles are minor, so it wouldn't be hard to fit him into a similar cameo in Masters of the Air.
Why Didn't Tom Hanks Star In Band Of Brothers?
When it came out in 2001, many viewers were surprised Tom Hanks wasn't front and center in the Band of Brothers cast. After all, the beloved actor was all over the project, producing, writing, and even directing. Hanks was just off the heels of a well-received World War II movie, Saving Private Ryan, making his omission even stranger. It isn't known exactly why he didn't appear, but considering how much Hanks was doing behind the scenes, starring may have just been too much.
Additionally, in 2001 there wasn't much crossover between movie and TV actors, and TV wasn't as respected a medium for performers. Hanks was at the height of his career in the early 2000s, and to many, it would have been seen as a bad career move for him to star in a TV show. However, that stigma has changed, and hopefully, Tom Hanks will be seen on the small screen again in Masters of the Air.