If you thought you’d seen every version of Tom Hanks, think again. We’ve had "America's Dad" in a cardigan, the stranded castaway talking to a volleyball, and even a grumpy neighbor in A Man Called Otto. But in 2025, things are getting weird. Really weird.
Wes Anderson happened.
The "Tom Hanks new movie 2025" everyone is buzzing about is technically a carry-over from the late 2024 festival circuit that finally hit the masses this year. It's called The Phoenician Scheme, and honestly, it’s unlike anything the actor has touched in his forty-year career. Forget the heartwarming monologues. Here, he plays a cynical Sacramento investor named Leland, and he’s part of a massive, stylized ensemble that includes everyone from Scarlett Johansson to Benedict Cumberbatch.
What is The Phoenician Scheme actually about?
Wes Anderson doesn't really do "simple" plots, but here’s the gist. The movie is an espionage black comedy. It follows an amoral, incredibly wealthy arms dealer named Anatole "Zsa-Zsa" Korda (played by Benicio del Toro). After narrowly escaping a bomb at 30,000 feet, Korda decides he needs to fix his life—specifically his relationship with his daughter, who happens to be a nun-in-training.
Where does Hanks fit in? He’s not the lead. He and Bryan Cranston play brothers who are investors. They are suspicious, grouchy, and weirdly good at basketball. It’s a supporting turn that feels more like a character study than a star vehicle.
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Actually, let's talk about the vibe. The movie premiered at Cannes in May 2025 and hit U.S. theaters on May 30, 2025. If you missed it in the cinema, it’s the kind of film that rewards a second watch on a big 4K screen at home because the detail is just suffocating.
The cast is a fever dream
It’s a Wes Anderson joint, so the call sheet looks like a list of Oscar winners at an after-party.
- Benicio del Toro as the lead, Zsa-Zsa Korda.
- Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet’s daughter) as Sister Liesl.
- Michael Cera as a Norwegian entomologist. Yes, an insect expert.
- Tom Hanks as Leland, the Sacramento investor.
- Bryan Cranston as Reagan, Leland’s business partner.
- Riz Ahmed as the Crown Prince of Phoenicia.
The 2025 Tom Hanks shift: From 'Here' to espionage
To understand why this movie matters, you have to look at what happened just before it. Tom Hanks started 2025 in the middle of a massive debate over his other big project, Here.
That movie—the one that reunited the Forrest Gump crew—landed on Netflix on January 30, 2025. It used aggressive AI de-aging to make Hanks look like a teenager again. Critics were... let's say, unkind. They called the technology "uncanny" and "distracting."
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So, by the time The Phoenician Scheme rolled around in May, people were ready to see the "real" Tom Hanks again. Or at least, a version of him that wasn't smoothed over by a computer algorithm. In the Wes Anderson world, he’s allowed to be older, sharper, and much funnier. He’s leaning into his "elder statesman of Hollywood" era, but with a wicked sense of humor.
Why people are still talking about 'Here' in 2025
Even though Here didn't crush the box office ($16 million against a $50 million budget is rough), it’s become a cult favorite on streaming this year. People are obsessed with the gimmick: the camera literally never moves. It’s one static shot of a living room that spans from the era of dinosaurs to the year 2024.
Hanks plays Richard, a guy who grows up in that house, falls in love, and grows old. If you want the classic, emotional Hanks, watch Here. If you want the "I'm bored of being the nice guy" Hanks, The Phoenician Scheme is your winner.
What’s coming next? (2026 and beyond)
The 2025 slate is mostly about these two polar opposite films, but the pipeline is far from empty. If you're a fan of his World War II obsession, keep your eyes on the Apple TV+ horizon.
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There is a sequel to Greyhound in development. Hanks is writing it himself, as he usually does when he’s nerding out over naval history. The plan is to start filming in January 2026. This "next chapter" is rumored to follow Commander Krause from the beaches of Normandy all the way to the Pacific. It's basically a guarantee for high-tension submarine drama.
And then there's the big one. Toy Story 5.
Disney has already planted a flag for June 19, 2026. Woody is coming back. It feels like we’ve said goodbye to that pull-string cowboy three times now, but Disney isn't letting go of that IP. Hanks is confirmed, Tim Allen is confirmed, and we’re all going to cry in a theater again in about eighteen months.
Practical takeaways for the Tom Hanks fan
If you're trying to keep up with the legend's current output, here’s how to prioritize your watchlist right now:
- Stream Here on Netflix. It’s the most polarizing thing he’s done. Watch it just to see the de-aging tech—it’s a glimpse into the future of cinema, for better or worse.
- Rent or buy The Phoenician Scheme. It’s Focus Features, so it moved to digital fairly quickly after its May release. It’s the best performance he’s given in years because he isn't trying to be "Tom Hanks."
- Skip the 'Freaky Tales' rumors. You might see trailers floating around YouTube for something called Freaky Tales featuring Hanks and Pedro Pascal. Just a heads-up: it’s an anthology film set in 1980s Oakland. It's cool, but it’s a very small role for him. Don't go in expecting a "Tom Hanks movie."
Honestly, we are lucky. Most actors at 69 are phoning it in or doing direct-to-video action movies. Hanks is out here letting Wes Anderson turn him into a Sacramento businessman who plays hoops and gets involved in international arms deals. It’s a weird time to be a fan, but it’s definitely not boring.
Check your local streaming listings for The Phoenician Scheme—it’s likely hitting Peacock or Focus Features' digital partners right about now. Catch it before the Toy Story 5 hype train starts and we're all back to talking about plastic toys and "You've Got a Friend in Me" for the next two years.