Documentarian Ken Burns returns to PBS with his biggest, most ambitious series to date: a 12-hour, six-part saga on The American Revolution. And to give voice to this often hidden history, he’s recruited an all-star cast of nearly 200 actors, including Hollywood heavyweights Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Morgan Freeman.
Narrated by the familiar voice of Peter Coyote, the series features an A-list roster lending their voices to nearly the historical figures. Joining the Oscar winners are A-listers like Josh Brolinas General Washington, plus Samuel L. Jackson, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, and Ethan Hawke.
Burns explained the impossibility of what the founding fathers achieved: ““The American Revolution is one of the most important events in human history,” the director said in a statement. “We went from being subjects to inventing a new concept, citizens, and set in motion democratic revolutions around the globe. As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding, I’m hopeful that people throughout the country will come together to discuss the importance of this history and to appreciate even more what our ancestors did to secure our liberty and freedoms.”
A Devastating & Inspiring Look at the Birth of the United States of America
This series, which has been in production for 10 years, promises to deliver insight to the nation’s past, aiming to look at the Revolution from multiple perspectives that are often forgotten. “Our film tells the remarkable history of the people who lived through the American Revolution, their everyday concerns, and their hopes, fears and failings,” said co-director Sarah Botstein. “It’s a surprising and deeply relevant story, one that is hugely important to understanding who we are as a country and a people. The Revolution changed how we think about government – creating new ideas about liberty, freedom, and democracy.”
“The Revolution was eight years of uncertainty, hope, and terror, a brutal war that engaged millions of people in North America and beyond and left tremendous loss in its wake,” said co-director David Schmidt. “At the same time, the Revolution also changed how Americans thought about themselves, their government, and what they were capable of achieving. The United States that emerged from the war was a nation few could have imagined before the shooting began in April 1775.”
Your Viewing Guide: When and Where to Watch
The six-part documentary will air on PBS for six consecutive nights, starting November 16, from 8 to 10 p.m. ET. For those who want to binge, the series will be available for streaming starting November 16 on PBS.org and the PBS App, as well as other platforms including Amazon Fire TV and Roku. Great news for viewers in the United States: PBS Passport is not required to stream episodes when they first premiere, but it will become a requirement beginning December 8, 2025.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
