Los Angeles:
Hollywood star DanielDay-Lewis will play 16th US president Abraham Lincoln in abiopic to be directed by Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg.
Lincoln, adapted by playwright Tony Kushner fromDoris Kearns Goodwin book Team of Rivals. Spielberg has beenattached to the project for years and earlier Liam Neeson wasattached to star as Lincoln.
Kushner and Spielberg had earlier teamed up forOscar-nominated Munich. Spielberg will begin filming themovie next year. He is also producing the biopic with KathleenKennedy, the Hollywood Reporter said.
"Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted asone of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era,the golden age of film or even some time in cinema's distantfuture," said Spielberg.
"I am grateful and inspired that our paths willfinally cross with Lincoln," he said in a statement.
The film will focus on the political collision ofLincoln and his cabinet over abolition and the end of theCivil War.
DreamWorks expects to have the film in theaters latein 2012 through Disney's Touchstone label.
Day-Lewis recently starred in musical Nine and 2007film There Will Be Blood, for which he won an Oscar for bestactor.
"Throughout his career, (Daniel) has beenexceptionally selective in his choice of material...whichmakes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to joinwith us for Lincoln," said DreamWorks co-chairman and CEOStacey Snider.
Spielberg has a busy year ahead. He is currentlyfilming War Horse, which will release on December 28, 2011,and he is set to start filming Robopocalypse in January 2012for a 2013 release. The Lincoln shoot will take place inbetween. He has also directed The Adventures of Tintin: TheSecret of the Unicorn.
Lincoln, adapted by playwright Tony Kushner fromDoris Kearns Goodwin book Team of Rivals. Spielberg has beenattached to the project for years and earlier Liam Neeson wasattached to star as Lincoln.
Kushner and Spielberg had earlier teamed up forOscar-nominated Munich. Spielberg will begin filming themovie next year. He is also producing the biopic with KathleenKennedy, the Hollywood Reporter said.
"Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted asone of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era,the golden age of film or even some time in cinema's distantfuture," said Spielberg.
"I am grateful and inspired that our paths willfinally cross with Lincoln," he said in a statement.
The film will focus on the political collision ofLincoln and his cabinet over abolition and the end of theCivil War.
DreamWorks expects to have the film in theaters latein 2012 through Disney's Touchstone label.
Day-Lewis recently starred in musical Nine and 2007film There Will Be Blood, for which he won an Oscar for bestactor.
"Throughout his career, (Daniel) has beenexceptionally selective in his choice of material...whichmakes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to joinwith us for Lincoln," said DreamWorks co-chairman and CEOStacey Snider.
Spielberg has a busy year ahead. He is currentlyfilming War Horse, which will release on December 28, 2011,and he is set to start filming Robopocalypse in January 2012for a 2013 release. The Lincoln shoot will take place inbetween. He has also directed The Adventures of Tintin: TheSecret of the Unicorn.
