Daniel Day-Lewis to play Abraham Lincoln in biopic

If you were already anticipating what would likely be Liam Neeson's greatest performance yet as Abraham Lincoln, sorry. Daniel Day-Lewis signed onto the part after Neeson dropped out a few months back, citing his age. (You have to admire his respect for historical accuracy, or something.) The five years less ancient Day-Lewis will star in the biopic to be directed by Steven Spielberg. According to Deadline,

Filming will begin in the fall of 2011 and the film is scheduled to be released during the 4th quarter of 2012 through Disney's Touchstone label. Liam Neeson was long attached to star, but he dropped out this past summer. Spielberg just committed to Robopocalypse, but it looks like Lincoln will be shot first.

Robopocalyyyyypse! Fun. I love when Spielberg sandwiches his serious films in between things like robopocalypses. But props to Spielberg who found the only other person in Hollywood nearly as perfect for the role as Neeson. (Neeson would make a great benevolent Lincoln, but Day-Lewis is the clear choice for Angry Lincoln, and I look forward to seeing that.) And if for whatever reason Day-Lewis has some crisis of role faith, there's always Ralph Fiennes.