Update on Speilberg's Abe movie?

[FlatLandFed]

Ladies and gents,

Does anyone know the latest on Speilberg's movie about Abraham Lincoln? A google search says it's "still in production" for 2008.
I'm tasked to help prepare for the former president's 200th birthday here in the largest community named after him. We'd certainly like to be able to show the film in our commercial theaters in mid-February if possible -- I doubt we can afford to pay the director, producer or lead actor to attend, but we'll try to coax them out to the prairie for our annual birthday party.

What's your suggestion on how to approach his production company about sending a representative to say a few words before showing the film?

We also plan to have at least one noted Lincoln scholar address the public at another venue.

Have any of you been involved as extras for the movie's wartime footage?

Thanks.
Paul Hadley
Lincoln, Neb.

[Will Eichler]

Re: Update on Speilberg's Abe movie?

Paul,

Don't hold your breath. I work in the film industry and I haven't heard a thing about this show shooting. Since seeing your posting, I went to the web and checked several sites that keep us up to date and there is no news newer than IMDB which was last updated in June. At that point, they listed the show as "in pre-production" - read that not shooting yet.

I'll keep my ear to the ground but my gut says don't expect this show in time for Lincoln's birthday next year.

Wish I had better news for you. I'll post back if I find anything else out.

Cheers,

Will

[FlatLandFed]

Re: Update on Speilberg's Abe movie?

Thanks, friend Will,
I was afraid that was the case re the production timetable.

Of course if they're still looking for seed money, maybe we could lure one of the script's writers/researchers to come out to discuss their project, meet the media and so forth.

Some of the options just beginning to be discussed for speakers would be "Battle Cry" McPherson (sp), a couple of local Lincoln scholars, a Carl Sandburg scholar or the author of the recently released (but a little tainted) prize-winning book about Abraham and his cabinet. Hmmm -- maybe a roundtable discussion by the two Pulitzer recipients would be a crowd-pleaser?

Yes, we'll of course have Abe and Babe impersonators, but we're playing to the level of the usual audience.

Stay tuned.

Paul Hadley
Lincoln Avengers, Lancaster Irregulars, Neb.

[Guy Gane III]

Re: Update on Speilberg's Abe movie?

I heard through the grape-vine that they are casting Romanians and filming it in Russia, a la "Cold Mountain".

Historically, Spielberg doesn't cast reenactors... Also I heard that Liam Neeson (sic?) is playing Lincoln.

[Dan Hadley]

Re: Update on Speilberg's Abe movie?

I've been looking forward to it too- came across this info, dated February 2006, on some movie website called www.countingdown.com:

"According to Hollywood Elsewhere columnist Jeffrey Wells, Lincoln, Steven Spielberg's long-planned biopic of the 16th President of the United States, is on hold.

"I spoke to Liam Neeson twice last summer at a couple of post-movie-premiere parties, and he said that the plan was for Steven Spielberg's Abraham Lincoln movie, in which he'll play the title role, to start shooting sometime around March '06," Wells reports.

"Forget it -- Spielberg's spokesperson Marvin Levy told me yesterday the Lincoln project (which will be based in part upon Doris Kearns Goodwin's recently published book about Lincoln) won't roll anytime soon and is basically up in the air."

Dan Hadley

[Tinner]

Re: Update on Speilberg's Abe movie?

Set to film in 2011.
Liam Neeson has been replaced by Daniel Day Lewis. Will they let Lincoln dress as well as Bill the Butcher?

Shay Lelegren