Landmark/PR Photos
It sounded like such a dream team: Steven Spielberg directing Tony Kushner’s screenplay about the life of Abraham Lincoln, with Liam Neeson in the title role. And now it turns out it’ll be just a dream after all: Neeson said in an interview with Britain’s GMTV on Friday that he’s no longer attached to the project. “I’m past my sell-by date,” Neeson quipped, referring to the fact that he’s 58 while Lincoln was assassinated at age 56. A rep for the actor tells EW.com, “That project has never seemed to come to fruition so he just moved on a couple of years ago.” Indeed, Spielberg has been keeping busy with several other projects: He’s wrapped The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn starring Daniel Craig and is now in pre-production on the WWI drama War Horse. (Both projects are scheduled for 2011 releases.) But that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. “It is a film we all hope to make,” says Spielberg’s rep at DreamWorks. “So much depends on timing and all the elements coming together at the right moment. Schindler’s List was around here for over 10 years. It was worth it, wouldn’t you say?” Point taken.
So with Neeson out of the picture, who else could play Honest Abe? Is any other great actor tall enough?
David Straithairn
@bird, I like the way you think
Damn! Is EW late on reporting news or what? I read this 2 weeks ago and just NOW does EW report about it.
Too old
AN UNKNOWN
Too small, even with the magic of film. I saw him on stage last year. He’s about 5’9″ and thin/light. They’d need Kristin Chenoweth to play Mary Todd Lincoln.
Sorry Suzanne…me thinks you need glasses. Mr.Neeson stands 6’4″.
Woosh…
She was talking about David Strathairn.
David Strathairn is 6′. Check IMDB if you don’t believe me.
Whoopi Goldberg
David is about 5’3″ isn’t he?
WHAT IS UP WITH THE ORANGE HAIR !??!?!?!?!?!?? !?!?!?!? !??!?!?!!!! !??!?!?!?!?!?? !!!!! !??!?!?!?!?!??
Even if it takes another five years, I still think Liam Neeson is the only sure-fire choice to play Lincoln. He has such a commanding presence on screen and playing Lincoln would require an authority that few Hollywood actors possess. Besides, if Minka Kelly can play a high school student in her late 20s, I think Neeson can definitely play a mid-50s Lincoln in his early 60s.
Bummer; it has to be Neeson. Though Bird has an interesting suggestion w/ David Straithern.
Jon Hamm, with silky, bushy beard, would be perfection.
Beat me to it. Excellent choice!
If they can’t get Neeson, Hamm would be a good alternate!
If my nominating criteria are reduced to height plus talent, I nominate Lee Pace. I know he’s young but that is what makeup is for.
Awesome suggestion. Been a fan of his since Wonderfalls. (Though any argument about height is irrelevant since Julie & Julia.)
Excellent suggestion. I’m thirding this one!
three words. DANIEL DAY LEWIS
THIS!
I wish I had come up that first! Brilliant!
Yes, great idea, looks just like him!
YES! Another Oscar nod for him as well. The Academy can’t not vote against a President.
Agree. He’s got the features for it too.
Yes, couldn’t agree more! He would be brilliant.
He’s much too creepy to play Lincoln. Maybe that’s just my personal aversion to the guy.
You called it! Daniel Day-Lewis is officially attached to play Lincoln now.
Sorry, only Neeson and Pace come close to Abraham Lincoln’s height. One of the notable things about Lincoln was that he stood so much taller than his political compatriots of the time, so if Stathairn was to play Lincoln at 6′, every other man cast would have to be 5’9″ or shorter.
I’m thinking Tim Robbins (6’5″) would be a viable choice.
I like this one too!
Anyone but Robbins…
@mark: brilliant. would defenitely be a step up form that previous movie with the dancing and singing.
How about an American actor, maybe an unknown from the Southern mid west like Lincoln. Lincoln had a folksy charm. I don’t seen Liam in the part at all.
Matthew Maconaughey has folksy charm. Shirtless Lincoln!
Hahaha hilarious visualization with this.
Too bad Sam Waterston is pushing 70. He won an Obie and a Tony nod for playing Lincoln. He would have been perfect.
I was thinking of Waterston too!
I know, it makes me sad. Waterson’s the PERFECT Lincoln.
I agree. In my opinion the best actors who have portrayed Abraham Lincoln in the past have been: (A) Raymond Massey (B) Sam Waterston (C) John Huston and (D) Gregory Peck. Henry Fonda was only okay in the role. Too bad Mr. Waterston is too old. My choices are David Straithairn, followed by Daniel Day-Lewis.
Zach Galifianakis.
JAMES CROMWELL.
James Cromwell already played a president: George Bush in “W.” He would have been a great Lincoln 20 years ago.
Aw! I love these biopic type movies and with Liam Neeson in the picture, I was pretty excited. But I suppose it’s still good there are some upcoming projects from Steven Speilberg. I will always love his work!!!
Sam Elliott? Sam Shepard? I agree with Bird about David Strathairn as well. It seems like I’ve been hearing about this movie since MUNICH came out. Why couldn’t he get it done in time to keep Neeson? In that way, it’s similar to that Teddy Roosevelt movie Scorsese’s supposedly been planning since THE AVIATOR came out.
TOM CRUISE (and a cast of Munchkins)?
Thanks for the LOL!