There was a rumor going around that this President’s Day Steven Spielberg would finally announce a production start date for his long-awaited Abraham Lincoln biopic. No such luck. We’re still waiting to find out more about this intriguing project. All we know at this point is that Liam Neeson (who picked up an Oscar nomination the last time he worked with Spielberg, in Schindler’s List) is attached to star as the stovepipe-hat-wearing commander in chief; that Sally Field might end up playing Mary Todd Lincoln; and that Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (who nabbed an Oscar nomination for writing Spielberg’s Munich) has been hard at work on a script, which will reportedly focus on the last two months of Lincoln’s life. What we were really hoping to find out today was who’ll be playing John Wilkes Booth, the Confederate loyalist who murdered Lincoln in 1865 during a play at Washington, D.C.’s Ford’s Theatre, then jumped onto the stage to take a bow before escaping into the night.
What makes that character so interesting, at least to us, is the fact that Booth was an actor. And not just any actor, but one of the most famous and successful of his day. To put it in 21st-century terms, it’d be as if George Clooney or Johnny Depp had been implicated in the assassination of a president. Come to think of it, either of those two stars would be perfect for the part, if they’d be willing to grow a Booth-esque mustache. Or maybe Spielberg should go for a JWB-style three-name thespian. Johnny Lee Miller, perhaps? Or Daniel Day-Lewis? How about Sarah Jessica Parker?
What do you think, Pop Watchers? What contemporary actor do you want to watch kill the 16th president of the United States?
Once the name Johnny Depp was mentioned, I just stopped thinking about it. He would be great!
I’m a Civil War geek so please forgive my being so literal, but Booth didn’t take a bow on the stage at Ford’s Theater. He shot Lincoln from behind his seat in the Presidential box, and then jumped from the balcony, catching his ankle on a flag and then landed on stage. But I digress — I think Johnny Depp would be a great JWB.
Robert Downey Jr. would be GREAT as John Wilkes Booth. Plus he’d totally rock the mustache.
You know who could work as Booth? Johnny Depp.
Liam Neeson seems like a good choice for Lincoln. Though I have to say, I was just thinking the other day that Hugh Laurie would be a good Lincoln.
I agree, Mr. Depp would be perfect! If he won’t do it, consider Joaquin Phoenix. He wants everyone to think he is crazy.
either depp or downey both would look like booth!!! ooohh!! i cannot wait for this to come out!!!
Joaquin!!
I think Johnny Depp would be awesome for the part!!!! but i also think Daniel Day-Lewis would work too! Liam Neeson I think will be an amazing Licoln, George Clooney would not be able to pull off Booth but thats just my opinion
Jason Lee would be great. He did a great job as the bad guy in Dogma and The Incredibles and kind of in Clerks II. Also, watch in Chasing Amy, Mallrats, and Almost Famous how his characters are very similar to Booth: they are angry, impassioned, and personalize things. The only difference is that in those films it was used in a comedic way. This could be like what P.T. Anderson did with Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love where he looked at the essence of his past comedic characters and saw a lot of similarities between them and the character in his drama. Adam Sandler gave his best performance of his career in that movie and I think Lee would do the same as Booth.
DD-L is a good one … or Gary Oldman.
~ d
Well, Booth was 26 years old when he assassinated Lincoln. Being that Johnny Depp is 46 he would be too old for the part. However, Hollywood usually takes dramatic licenses. Also if you look at pictures of Booth he looks older for his age and Johnny looks young for his age. So in that case, I think it would be great if he was considered for the part.
Daniel Day-Lewis would be supreme as John Wilkes Booth!
Daniel Day-Lewis should be Booth. i want to see him in as many films as possible. plus DDL + Spielberg = cinematic brilliance.
I’m not sure why anyone is throwing around big names to play John Wilkes Booth. In any film centered around Lincoln, there would be little time to develop Booth as any major character that would attract any major actor.