Filming will begin in the fall of 2011 and the film is scheduled to be released during the 4th quarter of 2012 through Disney’s Touchstone label. Liam Neeson was long attached to star, but he dropped out this past summer. Spielberg just committed to Robopocalypse, but it looks like Lincoln will be shot first. The director has two movies being released end of next year: Tin Tin: The Secret Of The Unicorn and War Horse.
Los Angeles, CA (November 19, 2010) – Two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis will star as the
16th President of the United States in DreamWorks Studios’ Lincoln to be directed by Steven Spielberg. The announcement was made today by Spielberg and Stacey Snider, Co-Chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios.
“Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema’s distant future. I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with Lincoln,” said Steven Spielberg. “Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material,” added Stacey Snider, “which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for Lincoln.”
Based on the best-selling book, Team of Rivals, by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, the screenplay has been written by the Pulitzer Prize winner, Tony Award winner, and Academy Award nominated writer Tony Kushner. It will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg.
It is anticipated that the film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to abolition and the end of the Civil War.
Doris Kearns Goodwin won her Pulitzer Prize for No Ordinary Time, the story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the home front in World War II. Kushner’s prize was for his play Angels in America, which later became an Emmy Award-winning television special. He had previously worked with Spielberg on Munich for which he was nominated for an Oscar in the Adapted Screenplay category.
Filming is expected to begin in the fall of 2011 for release in the fourth quarter of 2012 through Disney’s Touchstone distribution label.



A good choice. I just wish he was tall enough to accurately convey Lincoln’s height.
6’5″…..I think that is Liam Nieson, and…not too many others.
Wow! I’ve heard the rumors about Liam Neeson, but I didn’t realize “it” is a whopping 6’5″! Hey Yo!
Jeff Goldblum would’ve been the perfect choice. the right height, physical presence and the acting chops to pull off Lincoln.
Jeff Goldblum? are you kidding me? you forgot the main reason why he couldn’t play Lincoln if his life depended on it.
he’s a DOUCHE!
good God, I can’t believe you actually put that in a comment hear. Cuba Gooding Jr would have been a better choice over Jeff Goldblum!
its called acting– aka PRETENDING to be someone that you are NOT.
What, someone can’t have an opinion different from yours, without you insulting what they say? Why, you must be a Republican!
No offense to Joe, but that indeed is a priceless suggestion. Goldblum is a dweeb, and because he has no range, he only plays dweebs.
Dear Steve,
Lincoln was also a Republican, as was I.
YFS,
U.S. Grant
Geez Steve, I was actually on your side until that cheap, pointless political jab. For the record, I’ve never in my life met a Democrat who could discuss opposing views without mocking them, you included apparently.
In reply to Steve. What, if someone insults you then they must be a Republican? Why, you must be a Liberal. Really, can’t you go at least one day without the political partisanship?
your opinion… Jeff Goldblum is a decent actor – and could very well play Lincoln…. my heavens, go back over the years and look at the motley bunch that has done him before. and crude language doesn’t make your opinion any more valid.
Stan, your comment was hilarious i coildnt stop laughing for like 15 minutes hahaha. its true though
@ Ulysses
The modern republican party in NO WAY resembles the republican party of Lincolns day. Just because they are the same names does not infer same ideology.
But it was equally a cheap and misinformed shot at republicans for stating the obvious fact that Jeff Goldblum would be a horrible choice, especially since this article is about perhaps the greatest actor of his generation taking the role.
The Fly as Lincoln? Acting chops? He would`ve destroyed Gangs of NY
On drugs I see Jeff Goldblum as the greatest actor alive…
Jeff Goldblum? Honestly. He always plays the geek, the dork, the nerd. None of these would ever be used to describe Lincoln.
Actually, those who didn’t know Lincoln thought he was of all of those things. Lincoln was a very awkward man, until he spoke and his wit and intellect elevated his stature.
Llincoln was a geek, a nerd, awkward, misfit…. fits doesn’t it?
Goldblum carries on dialogue with himself when “acting”. I wouldn’t cast him as an extra on the battlefield.
no way on jeff not when were talking lincoln
Thank you Mrs. Goldblum, It’s always nice to here from Jeff’s Mom.
I agree! Jeff Goldblum would be perfect! He has the look, the acting chops and it would be kind of nice for an American to play Lincoln.
Actually. I Think Daniel Day Lewis will render an ASTOUNDING portrayal of Lincoln. As a writer, we penned a screenplay years ago for a Lincoln anthology beginning with the young Lincoln. (which was never produced) At the time Daniel Day Lewis had just finished “Last of the Mohicans” and I thought he could play the entire Lincoln from early 20′s to 56. (with older make-up of course)He is older now, but still a great actor to cast for this part.
Lincoln’s eyes were gray-blue not dark brown, so Jeff Goldblum’s olive complexion won’t really match. DDL is very close and his mannerisms are more like Lincoln’s as well. Fatten his lower lip with Botox, give him the little bump on the lip and gray his sideburns, it will be astounding match visually. He might try to lose just a few pounds, and elevator boots will provide the height of 6’4″ at about 156 pounds.
Finally, the acting will be the real test. Depending on the treatment this could be a Great film! It will really come down to how close to the facts and truth Spielberg stays, and if he can render an honest record of the events of the Lincoln Cabinet as they fought and struggled in this political war room.
Daniel Day Lewis is the best by far.
Yeah, the height is an issue but a tiny one. With the clothing style he typically wore, they’ll be able to add several inches with just his shoes/boots through the type of boot they use and the lifts.
Hope this doesn’t become a subtle “political campaign” movie. Interesting on the timing of the release.
You read my mind Mark. I love Spielberg, but I sense the “opposing Cabinent members” will be cast as the “Evil Conservatives” with Lincoln as a Progressive RINO.
Uh….Spielberg…4th Quarter 2012…nuff said…
And he’s gonna need a beard, too.
Check that forehead. Paint the dude blue and he’s Megamind.
Yeah, if only movies had a way to CHANGE THE HEIGHT OF PEOPLE. We are still decades away from having the VFX power. WETA, ILM… those people are chumps. I WANT AN ACCURATELY CONVEYED LINCOLN’S HEIGHT!!!!!!!!!
Lincoln’s height was irrelevant, it was the genius and humanity of the man, that was/is important. Daniel Day Lewis will portray him brilliantly I am sure of that.
Lincoln used his height for effect. One reason he wore that tall hat was to accentuate it. He liked to measure himself against other tall men. He was also physically powerful. Cut his own firewood in the back yard, and to show his strength would hold a double-blade ax by the end and extend his arm out full length. Try it. I’ve seen weight lifters fail to do it.
The man was a tyrant. He threw people in jail who disagreed with him.Violated the bill of rights to suit his needs.
Yes he was an evil dictator. Wonder if they will tell any of the truth in the movie. Bet lots of people don’t know he wanted to send the blacks back to Africa. And he walked by the largest slave market in the country all the time in Washington. And he didn’t do an thing to free slaves in the states he was president of.
Yes he arrested everyone who disagreed with him. The man was evil. History has been re-written by the victors.
Lincoln actually didn’t violate the Bill of Rights. His actions were constitutional given the state of emergency the Civil War posed. He was a tyrant in so far as he insisted, in his last speech, to give blacks the right to vote and other equalities to whites. That was so tyrannical, one member of that speech’s audience (a speech given from the White House balcony when news spread of Lee’s surrender) decided for that he must die. And that spectator, John Wilkes Booth, killed one “tyrant”, and subjected the South to the true tyranny of Reconstruction, and blacks to Southern tyranny for another century.
A “tyrant”? I bet you think the US lost WWII, slavery was instituted by the US, and Jimmy Carter was the best President this country ever had. Go back to sleep and please refrain from posting senseless iconoclastic babble.
…and kept the union together!
…and kept the union together!
Not to mention the continued fallacy that he freed the slaves — the Emancipation Proclamation was a tool the Union used that only applied to Confederate-controlled areas in an attempt to encourage fear of slave uprisings. It did not cover slaves held in Union-controlled states like Kentucky. Winners write history.
When a country is being ripped to shreds in a war that was killing many thousands, whether or not legal niceties are followed rapidly becomes irrelevant.
With all due respect, comments like yours help to explain many of our current long term entanglements in the world. War isn’t a lawyer’s game unless you like losing slow and at more expense than is necessary.
People still arguing whether Lincoln was a good president or not? Jesus Christ, please spare us. Some of you apparent Confederate-loving maggots talk as if history is one big conspiracy and doesn’t rely on primary source documents for analysis. Lincoln’s brilliance is well-documented even in his letters. There is no ‘liberal’ conspiracy among historians. And please, stop for the love of God attempting to somehow equate today’s politics to that of Lincoln’s era. The 19th century terms Republican and Democrat are nowhere near what they mean today.
Wow, you’re not very smart. Good news though is that you’re apparently slightly smarter than John.
Wow, lots of very ignorant people with very strong opinions unsupported by the facts.
I agree with the post above in that DDL is a great choice for the role of Lincoln, except for his height. Hollywood figured out how to make Meryl Streep over 6′ tall as Julia Child, I am confident they can make little DDL appear to be the 6’4″ height of Lincoln.
And although Lincoln alone did not abolish slavery, he is credited with abolishing it because of the Emancipation Proclamation (which outlawed slavery in the seceded states) and his efforts and success with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution passed by Congress under his presidency which finally outlawed slavery in the US.
Its true that Lincoln felt the most humane option for the freed slaves was to send them back to Africa (he fought very hard for this). And why? Because he feared for their ‘freedom’ and safety in America as ‘freed slaves’, and could not imagine a America where they would be treated as ‘equal’. History has shown that he was correct, and it took almost 100 years for the US to pass the Civil Rights Amendment to the Constitution.
Some may view Lincoln as a dictator, but unfortunately in a democracy during a civil uprising dictatorial measures are often necessary to maintain order. These acts would be ‘evil’ if instituted during peaceful times.
Lincoln was a tyrant?! You must be a confederate lover. He was the president who kept out country together during and after the war. He could have seriously punished the South but chose to be forgiving. Even Lee didn’t want to fight that stupid war. This should be interesting. Whoever said Lincoln will be show as a liberal against evil conservatives is way off base. Lincoln wanted slaves to be sent back to Africa. That’s not way liberal, nor was trying to keep the country together. Also, there is no direct connection between a Republican now and then.
John, what an insightful comment. He didn’t do a thing to free the states in which he was President of? Wrong, jackass. His support for the passage of the 13th amendment codified abolition as the Confederate Constitution codified slavery and the relegation of the entire black race. The true tyrants? The Southern slaveocracy. Just how much freedom of speech would I have had in Charleston, South Carolina say if I wanted to have mailed directly to me either William Lloyd Garrison’s “The Liberator” or Frederick Douglass’ “The North Star?” None. I would have been taken out in the middle of the night by the pusillanimous “Slavers” (or their future counterpart Confederates, Ku Klux Klan, or the Libertarian Neo-Confederate poltroons of today.) strung up, hanged by the neck and then drawn and quartered. Yes, but Lincoln was the real tyrant and the “Godly” slaveocracy Confederates, the true patriots. Thank God, the poltroons lost. The Balkanization of the United States would have led to the triumph of National Socialism and Japanese Militarism and the world today would look a little different.
Make the other actors shorter?
Are there any Munchkins available?
break out the axes!!! ala Misery…
That was a sledge hammer.
The Civil War was started over the issue of “States Rights”. The right to be autonomous from the Federal Government because the Feds were squeezing the economic life out of the south. It evolved into the issue of the “Right of Secession”. The south was following the original 13 colonies example of leaving an oppressive government.
The civil war started on April 12, 1862. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1864. Over a year after the war began! Why wait over a year to “free the slaves” if that was the driving issue behind the war? Shouldn’t that have been the CAUSE for the first shot on Ft. Sumter?
It only freed the slaves in the southern states and not the slaves in the north. Hmmm, wonder why?
Lincoln used the popular issue of slavery to distract his northern citizens from the unpopular war which was causing conscription riots in cites like New York and Boston. People were being forced into the army to fight and they didn’t want to go. No draft and certainly no “all volunteer army” as we have today.
Lincoln suspended the writ of Habeus corpus which is a legal writ that requires the government to produce any individual in custody and to explain WHY they are in custody!
Do you think Spielberg will include these elements in his movie?
(Just so you know I was raised in California and now reside on Oklahoma so this isn’t a regional gripe.)
Get James Cameron to do a digital Avatar-Lincoln. Or better still, have Nick Park, creator of “Wallace and Gromit”, do a claymation documentary of Lincoln.
You can “change the height” of people… not literally, but through camera tricks. Does Tom Cruise look 5’4″ in his movies? No… but he is that tiny.
No, he doesn’t look like he s 5’4″, perhaps because he is 5’7″…
Gee, can’t image, with all the wonderful filmmaking techniques, you know something they call “shoot from low a angle” or that stuff they call “vfx”…You’re right, now way Daniel comes off as a believable Lincoln.
You forget about the Apple Box. Tom Cruise doesn’t leave home without one.
Really?
Lance Henriksen did a kick-ass Lincoln about 10 or so years ago, and he’s what? 5’8″?
I will concede that Bishop didn’t look as gangly as the real Abe, but other than that I think he knocked it out of the park.
And knowing DDL, you know he’s going to completely transform into our 16th President. But I doubt anyone will notice if he’s a few inches shorter than the real Lincoln.
Did anybody notice or care that Jim Carrey was a few inches taller than the real Andy Kaufman?
lewis will be getting that surgery from “gattaca” where his bones will be broken and fitted with an extra three inches as prep for the role. afterwards he’ll have them retro-fitted to his pre-lincoln height, then put on two hundred pounds to play william howard taft.
LOL. I love it! Except, let’s be honest, a movie about Taft…well, not quite so interesting.
Don’t worry his talent is “tall enough” to convey Lincoln.
You have hit the nail on the head. Only a few actors alive could
pull this off. DDL is on the short list
It was amazing how they shrunk Elijah Wood so he could accurately convey how Hobbits were truly meant to be seen.
Come on!! Cagney? Bogart? Gable? and many more….All under six feet tall. It’s a movie! If we can’t add a little height through technology then let’s all sit back and watch Toy Story! Look at Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile..he looks much larger than in person.
My larger concern is that they will not portray Mary Todd Lincoln accuratley. (not physically)
Anyway, if you want an interesting perspective, read Gore Vidal’s faction book “Lincoln.” Great read!!
yeah, once saw Mary Tyler Moore in the part. In the White House Years she was short and plump. Moore was taller and about thirty pounds lighter.
The fact is they really wanted to portray Lincoln’s true inner character. Unfortunately, all the Munchkins from Oz have passed away.
Height? Dude – it’s a movie – Errol Flynn, Tom Cruise…..
Errol Flynn was 6’2″, Tom Cruise is 5’6″. So what’s your point?
And his ex, who starred in numerous films with him, is 5′ 11″
Liam was the only good choice, I was loking forward to this movie but will probably now pass on it.
It’s the movies. They can do anything. Full-grown actors can be hobbits, and Charles Bronson can be made to look taller than his true 5’2″ height.
I hope Spielberg get the history correct about Lincoln. So many directors put their spin on a movie which changes the course of true history.
Fixed with camera angles
D. Day Lewis is an amazing actor. He’s more than able to make the portrayal beyond special. 6’2″ Peter O’Toole played 5’3″
T.E. Lawrence. Presence & talent trumps accuracy & stature.
I am hoping that Speilberg includes the Battle of Antietam in this as it resulted in Lincoln signing the emancipation proclimation. Antietam would make Saving Private Ryan’s Omaha beach landing quite tame in comparision. Antietam is considered the worst day in American military history.
Daniel Day Lewis is perfect for the part. This is gonna be one movie I am glad will be made in my lifetime, can’t wait to see it!
I drink this milkshake. I drink it up!
!!!
Darn – too bad Day-Lewis isn’t playing Lincoln in ABE LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER. Guess that leaves Liam Neeson free and clear!
I always thought Liam Neeson was attached to this project. Good choice either way.
Not again!
Are they looking to open the same day as Vampire Slayer Lincoln?
I think this is genius casting and I can’t wait to see it.
Lincoln was 6’4, DDL is 6’1 so it’s not a huge gap. Plus DDL looks tall compared to most actors.
Surprisingly, three inches is a significant difference. It’s not insurmountable on film, though. Apple boxes, trenches, platform shoes. They’ll take care of this just fine.
Wow. Day-Lewis is absolutely going to rock everyone’s face with this role. Cannot wait.
YAWN! I love DDL, but who cares about Spielberg directing a Lincoln movie. Timur’s flick will come out first, thus discrediting any semblance of seriousness to which we should judge Spielberg’s film. There is no audience for this as there is no audience for WAR HORSE. Much like with INDY 4 and several films in the last decade, Spielberg keeps slipping away from making a film that resonates with all audiences as he once was able to do on a regular basis.
If you can’t make a LINCOLN film that resonates with audiences, then you can’t make movies.
Spielberg is still a cinematic genius. WAR HORSE will win an Oscar for Best Picture in 2011. Daniel will win an Oscar for Best Actor in LINCOLN in 2012.
Take that to the bank.
Happy to take that bet. I’ll put four figures against that.
Put your money where your mouth is. Steven is washed up…. cannot hold a candle to the likes of Peter Jackson. He ruined the mythology of Peter Pan with his terrible take on it. ET has not held up over the years… it is just plain silly and full of plot holes.
Congratulations. You are asshat-know-nothing of the week!!!
Don’t give up your day job, that’s if you have one.
You are wrong–A lot of us in the educated worlk wish to see this and other works by Speilberg
And very more of us in the educated world do NOT wish to see this and other works by Spielberg…snooze.
Nevermind the fact that Kearns-Goodwin is a known plagerizer.
How old are you, dvleopment, twelve? You’re nuts to think there’s no audience for a film about Abraham Lincoln, especially with DDL. Not everything has to be for teenagers you know (although I bet they’ll show up too).
This will do only slightly better at the Box Office than Amistad and Empire of the Sun did.
Not to mention that this will be (at least) the third Lincoln related movie (Redford’s conspiracy movie and the “Vampire Slayer” being the others– and yes, “Vampire Slayer” will impact this movie’s b.o.)
The sad thing is “dvelopment” probably is a development exec. Probably the same one who thought Pride & Prejudice & Zombies was a good script that had a great literary pedigree. It really is shameful how poor the taste level is of many people making a great living in this business.
Absolutely brilliant casting. What a team. Now I only hope the script stays true to Kearns-Goodwin book. As to height issues, I’m willing to bet some of the Lord of the Rings magic will suffice here in a very unobtrusive way. Or what the hell, knowing Day-Lewis, he’ll grow a beard, wear a fake nose & wart and walk around on stilts for 6 months before shooting.
send me a note and i might be able to tell you.
sorry, look me up on facebook and i might be able to answer your question.
Thanks Matthew Starr, good info re: DDL’s height. I stand corrected. (heheh)
*tears* Can’t. Wait.
i though Al Pacino was going to play Lincoln….
Naw William H Macy..
matt leblanc was in serious talks until he passed on the movie to do a webisode on james polk.
If Len Amato at HBO films had his way Al Pacino would.
I thought Morgan Freeman was going to play Lincoln
I thought perpaps Mini Me would be strongly considered to play Lincoln.
Spielburg has changed his mind about DDL and will cast Danny DeVito instead.
I hope they get into the part of Lincoln’s life that was on the island from Lost
Daniel Day-Lewis will be a terrific Lincoln.
Fantastic choice for a wonderful project.
Will Sally Field still play Mrs. Lincoln? She was attached.
Field was on it years ago. I think there are are some great actresses who could play her even better and that aren’t those five actresses on every list lately (Blake Lively, Portman, Johansen, Jessicas of every kind)….how about Toni Collette or Rosemary Dewitt, both are on Spielberg’s Showtime show United States of Tara…
There’s got to be more!
chloe kardashian had an incredible test audition but her casino/mall appearance schedule was too much of a conflict.
I doubt it. That was way back when they were thinking of Tom Hanks for the role. Not knocking her acting but she is much, much too old for the role now. I heard that they were looking at Marcia Gay Harden. She looks the part, could look the right age and is an ace actress. I love DDL, and an outstanding performance is 100% guaranteed, but does anyone know why Liam Neeson knocked it back? He would have been perfect.
My main concern is whether they are going to portray Lincoln accurately. People have mentioned that he was sympathetic. True, but not for the reasons most people think. He wanted to keep the union together, come hell or high water, and personal correspondence demonstrated that he was reasonably prejudiced, based on todays standards. I wonder if they are going to show him conflicted or accurate, or if Hollywood is going to “pretty -up” his image to show him to be completely different that he actually was, A man of his times, who did what he thought was right, but had the opinions and stereotypes in hin opinions that anyone of the US had. He did what he had to do, but it wasnt pretty.
Will they show that?
That Said, and back on topic. I think DDL is a good choice, assum,ing they show Lincoln as a deep char and take advantage of his acting talents.
If they just want to have a “ra ra” film as is typical of hollywood, just stick any slender tall male in the role and tell him to repeat “the Sounth loves slavery” ad infinatum. Hollywood will love that, and the masses will eat it up.
Hopefully they will make an intelligent film. The personal conflict in attacking the south, commiting to a war between the states. The decision to play power politics with slavery. The speachwriting process, and whther he wrote his own without input (i believe he wrote all his own). His decisionblet General Sherman off the leash. This last as big an issue as trumans decision to drop the atom bomb.
I just wonder what is being planned is all. A great president. A contyroversial president. An eventually decisive president who was assasinated due to his decisions. Good material if done correctly.
He certainly has the gaunt, lanky build to play Lincoln and his role in “Gangs of New York” proved he can pull off playing someone from the mid-19th Century. A 3-inch difference in height is nothing a pair of platform shoes and/or creative camera angles can’t solve.
“I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross…yada-yada” Oh please. This ass-licking lingo always makes me gag. Whatevs. Still can’t wait to see it.
Aziz Ansari should of got this role
what an outrage
zach galifianakis was vigorously pursued for the lead but he had already pre-committed to hangover 3.
Love DDL! He’s always brilliant. So many great stories surround Lincoln — Saw Redford’s THE CONSPIRATOR in Toronto and thought it was surprising good. Not sure what’s happening with it but worth seeing. Bring on the Lincoln flicks (although I imagine DDL will not be killed in the first 5 mins of this one).
Wow, this sounds amazing. I am really excited to see this, and I don’t say that often when new movie projects are announced.
Nice pun there, my friend and I thought it was funny, in a sordid kind of way.
<blockquote="Spielberg just committed to Robopocalypse, but it looks like Lincoln will be shot first."
NICE
I am glad Speilberg is finally setting a date for this Lincoln film and will get this done…Daniel Day Lewis is an excellent choice…got no problems with any of that…
back burner “Interstellar”. For those who want Spielberg back to making popcorn films…once that gets put into production, things’ll get awesome