Image Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/PR Photos; Donna Ward/PR PhotosAs the movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies chews its way through potential directors like undead jaws through brains, the various parts of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, based on a book by PPZ author Seth Grahame-Smith, are slowly coming into place. Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov has settled comfortably in the director’s chair, and he has already chosen a lead: Benjamin Walker, who is best-known for playing Andrew Jackson in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and who, from the looks of it, is trying to act his way through the ranks of American paper currency.
Additionally, The Hurt Locker’s Anthony Mackie is in talks to join the Tim Burton-produced feature as Will, Lincoln’s best friend, while Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!, Tamara Drewe) will likely play Honest Abe’s mentor, Henry, who, in the source material, is also the individual that reveals Lincoln’s true, vampire-staking story to the book’s narrator. There are some rumors floating around that actress Robin McLeavy will be playing Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd, but a source tells EW that she is only one of three actresses currently vying for the role.
There are still plenty of characters to be cast: From Alaska-purchaser and fellow hunter William Seward to vampiric assassin John Wilkes Booth. In the book, Lincoln even runs into Edgar Allan Poe — poet, writer, and Christopher Nolan precursor — who, of course, knows all about the vampires. John Cusack is already taking on the role of Poe in the upcoming The Raven, so my suggestion for AL:VH is Jeffrey Combs, who was terribly creepy in The Frighteners, among many other horror flicks, and has already played Poe to great effect in an episode of Masters of Horror. Or maybe even Joaquin Phoenix, who was reportedly in talks to play Henry and had also been rumored to play Poe in a totally different project nearly a year ago. Plus, he’s got that dark look about him, and I’m pretty sure he has no issue pulling off “eccentric.”
Read more:
Tim Burton’s ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ is totally happening; Who should play Abe?
EW’s ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ Book Review
Greatest. Title. Ever.
Ugh, I hated P&P&Z, but love Ben Walker so much that I have to see this movie. So excited for him!
This is Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, it has nothing to do with PPZ
Jeremy Davies would make a great Poe
I just can’t really imagine Dominic Cooper as Henry, maybe because I just saw him in Sense and Sensibility and Tamara Drewe so he is kind of annoying me now.
But anything about this sure to be awesome movie makes me smile!!!
isnt this from an episode of party down? the one with the sweet 16?
Benjamin Walker is f***ing awesome!
oscar nominee for winters bone john hawkes as poe or if u want to go hollywood get depp he has the look. Winnona ryder or chloe svengy as mary todd lincoln. James marsters from buffy fame to play lincolns mentor. Put peter dinklage in there somewhere
I seriously cannot wait for this movie. I love Ben Walker to death (and have met him, he’s SO NICE!) and I am reading the novel right now (it’s a masterpiece.) Trent Reznor could be cool.
“Benjamin Walker, who is best-known for playing Andrew Jackson in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and who, from the looks of it, is trying to act his way through the ranks of American paper currency.”
XD XD XD
That’s the best quote I’ve read on this site since “Who knew Chris Martin was so bendy?” from the 2009 Grammy live blog.
Aloha! I’ve just stopped by to say thanks for this interesting entry. Take care!