Daniel Day-Lewis to play Lincoln in Spielberg movie

November 22, 2010 By Jeffrey Van Camp

Daniel Day-Lewis, a two-time Oscar winner, has been cast as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's upcoming biopic.

Though it’s difficult to picture a more accurate Abraham Lincoln than Liam Neeson, Daniel Day-Lewis is a surprisingly acceptable alternative. Over the weekend, Director Steven Spielberg revealed that the British actor will portray one of the most revered presidents in United States history.

“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.

Aside from directing by Spielberg, Lincoln is written by Tony Kushner, best known for Munich and the Angels in America miniseries. He is also a highly revered playwright. The film has been in development for some time and should start shooting in Fall 2011 for a planned late 2012 release.

Daniel Day-Lewis is in good hands, but the filmmakers are likely more honored than he is to have him. The two-time Oscar winner (My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood) is known for his method acting and how selective he is when choosing roles. He has starred in several high profile films including Gangs of New York and The Last of the Mohicans. He replaces Liam Neeson, who dropped out of the project after many delays.

“Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material, which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for Lincoln,” said Stacy Snider, Dreamworks CEO.

What do you think about Day-Lewis as the 16th President of the United States? Does he have the right aura to play such a revered man or should he stick to drinking milkshakes?

Showing 14 comments

NAK at 10:14am 17th December 2010 I can only imagine the care and dedication that Mr. Day- Lewis will take in preparing for this role. He is an excellent choice. I hope that historical accuracy will be maintained and that the public will not walk away thinking that they have been enlightened by Hollywood as was the case in JFK, which was full of fallacy.
Corbijn at 12:38am 6th December 2010 One of the few actors today who will go down in the halls as one of the best. He hasn't played a poor role yet and his worst would only be a level others would dream to reach to. How can he not fail. His style is so amazing that one can hardly distinguish him from one role to the next. He can play this part without question.
Thane Of Cawdor at 9:35am 26th November 2010 Hey, John Galt instead of spewing empty rhetoric, GET A JOB!
blue eagle at 11:20am 23rd November 2010 4. The income tax was instituted temporarily under emergency conditions - to pay for a war started by secessionists and it was gone by 1871. I seem to remember George Washington sending troops in to Pennsylvania when they wouldn't pay their taxes. Also, your Confederate heroes instituted a tariff, suspended habeas corpus, closed down newspapers, instituted conscription for the duration of the war, etc. etc. 5. What "undermined states rights!!" was the southern Slave Power when they instituted the Fugitive Slave Law, the biggest violation of states rights in American history. I guarantee John Galt has read some League of the South lackey's book - and nothing else - and considers himself some sort of civil war expert. I suggest reading the declarations of secession from the various states, the speeches from the Fire-eaters in the 1850's-1860, the speeches from the Southern commissioners to the slave states of the upper south to try and get them to secede, and the Charleston Mercury (the main secessionist newspaper) - and see if what they were fighting for and what the discredited hack you are getting your "history" from says they were fighting for are the same.
1. Robert at 9:58pm 25th November 2010 I just hope the legacy of Abraham Lincoln is honored
BlueEagle at 11:17am 23rd November 2010 1. Lincoln reluctantly supported VOLUNTARY colonization (like Jefferson, Clay, and other abolitionists before him) because he knew Southerners wouldn't live alongside free blacks. Note the "voluntary" part. He discarded his support for colonization after he talked northerners into supporting black troops. 2. When did he "sign the Fugitive Slave act", Corky? He despised the Fugitive Slave Law. 3. Slavery was protected by the Constitution. Lincoln ran on a platform of preventing the spread of slavery into the territories. Nobody said he ran on a platform to "send evil thugs into the South and free the slaves!!" except your revisionist drivel - and that's only to set up a red herring.
Rob M at 8:11am 23rd November 2010 Even if there is truth to this it is a minor blemish compared to what he did. He held our country together through it's toughest time. If not for this great man the United States would not be here today. He will always be the most important president in our history.
Drew Abas at 3:07pm 22nd November 2010 Two thumbs up for Cliff's cogent rebuttal. Jeez, Mr. Galt, having your dates wrong regarding the Fugitive Slave Act as having been en-acted under Lincoln's administration makes all your other points questionable at best. Why shoot yourself in the foot, good man. Don't you know you can get that done at Ford's Theater? I'm just sayin'...
Chris C at 11:40am 22nd November 2010 Thanks for your opinion John Galt. Maybe you can post some references so we know your "facts" are indeed facts.
John Galt at 11:27am 22nd November 2010 The sad part is that he's playing the part of fiction and it's going to be pawned off as reality care of the revisionist historians that have been working for 150 years to make Lincoln a saint. Lincoln wanted to send ALL (not just those in servitude) to Liberia in one forced move. Lincoln signed and supported the Fugitive Slave Act forcing states that had banned slavery to participate in the capture of escaped slaves and send them back to their "owners". Lincoln instituted an income tax against the constitution. Lincoln undermined state's rights by forcibly overruling states that wish to not participate in the fugitive slave act sending government thugs to force them to capture escaped slaves. Lincoln was against all laws that would lead to a slave's freedom over time, similar to what North Carolina had before the war. Lincoln only signed the Emancipation Declaration AFTER the southern states left the union as a scam to get support for a war against those exercising their right to leave this country. He was not the great freer of slaves. He was the great enslaver of everyone who sold himself as something else after the fact, and has been proped up for 150 years on that lie. Only recently has the truth been coming out with major new books exposing him for what he was. A fraud. Hopefully this will cause more conversation about Lincoln so that the truth can be exposed. It's too bad that this movie isn't about the real Lincoln but instead a regurgitation of the lies.
1. Cliff Norman at 1:00pm 22nd November 2010 Hello John, some thoughts (Part 1): 1. The Fugitive Slave Law or Fugitive Slave Act was passed by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850 between Southern slave holding interests and Northern Free-Soilers. Lincoln was not the President who signed this law into existence. He became President in 1860. 2. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in January of 1863. The Civil War had been raging for two years.On September 22, 1862, Lincoln announced that he would issue a formal emancipation of all slaves in any state of the Confederate States of America that did not return to Union control by January 1, 1863. The Proclamation added the end of slavery to the war purpose, which started out as "Preserving the Union." Very few white people were willing to die to free black people in 1860.
2. Cliff Norman at 1:02pm 22nd November 2010 Part 2: (3). Lincoln, like most white people of his time did not think that blacks were equal to whites. What he did think is that blacks, being human beings were endowed by their creator with natural rights. He did not believe that blacks should be given civil rights. Given his insistence that blacks should be able to earn and keep the fruits of their labor and enjoy natural rights, he was a progressive for his time. Very few people had the moral courage to speak up as Lincoln did in the debates with Senator Douglass. 4. Lincoln assuming the office of President and taking the oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States was duty bound to enforce all laws, including the Fugitive Slave Law. He could not pick and choose which laws to enforce. This is a modern day invention. In Lincoln's time, your word was to be kept...it was a matter of personal honor. Fraud…I don’t think so. We would do well today if our leaders in Washington had a thimble of the moral courage that Lincoln possessed, not to mention his brains. Best, Cliff Norman
Mary Talyor at 11:25am 22nd November 2010 Daniel Day-Lewis can play anything! Especially Abraham Lincoln!
1. Matos at 6:23pm 22nd November 2010 Right on brother!!!!! Can you believe that Quentin Tarantino picked John Travolta to play Vincent Vega over Daniel Day Lewis? and Mel Gibson thought he looked "too European" to play the Passion of Christ... Steven Spielberg I salute you for picking The Great Daniel Day- Lewis for Lincoln. His one the greatest actor of all time!!!!!! I can't wait to see this film!!!!!