Many Hollywood Internet sites are reporting today that famed actor Liam Neeson has dropped out of the role of Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s biographical film. Well, shall we say “proposed film” because this project has been “planned” for at least five years with no progress on it whatsoever.
Neeson, according to the website Monsters And Critics.com, feels as though he’s now too old to portray Lincoln. The actor is 58, while Lincoln was 56 when he was assassinated.
I disagree. Look at any recent photo of Neeson and compare it to the ravages of age on Lincoln’s face towards the end of his life. Neeson looks far younger even today than Lincoln did at 50.
Other sites are speculating that Neeson simply tired of the lack of progress or even movement on this project by Spielberg. It’s a shame, because I think Neeson would have been brilliant in the role.
Please don’t confuse this proposed Lincoln film with the “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” film to be based on the book by the same title. This film would be serious while the vampire film will be classic camp.
At any rate, who knows if Spielberg will ever bring this project to the screen? He missed a golden opportunity last year during the bicentennial celebrations of Lincoln’s birth. I wonder if it would even find an audience.