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Jackie Earle Haley Cast as Confederate VP in Spielberg's 'Lincoln' Film

by Alex Billington
September 21, 2011
Source: Deadline

Looks like we have another villain. Steven Spielberg is gearing up to start shooting his legendary Lincoln history project next, which might finally be happening. Deadline now reports that he's cast Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley in the role of Alexander Stephens, the Vice President of the Confederate States during the Civil War and a "nemesis of Lincoln's slavery reform agenda." Haley joins a cast alongside of Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, Sally Field as Mary Todd, with Tommy Lee Jones and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. That's a stellar cast, and I'm glad production is almost set to start, as its great we'll finally see this!

Spielberg spoke just recently about Lincoln and some early details on the project, including that they're "only focusing in on the last four months of Abraham Lincoln's life." Deadline confirms that Spielberg will start shooting it this fall, and that they're aiming to put it out next year, late 2012, after the elections, perfect time for another awards season run. The film has a screenplay most recently by Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Munich). Jackie Earle Haley is currently shooting Tim Burton's Dark Shadows in London, and is coming off of Dan Pritzker's Bolden!, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Shutter Island and Watchmen. I'm just excited by how great of a cast this is, Spielberg's doing a great job choosing actors. We'll keep you updated.

Filed under Casting, Development, Movie News

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