Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field are already set to star in Steven Spielberg’s Abraham Lincoln film as the 16th President of the United States and his wife, and now the director has cast his supporting roles.

According to the press release sent out by DreamWorks Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Hal Holbrook, James Spader, John Hawkes, Tim Blake Nelson, Bruce McGill and Joseph Cross are in negotiations to join the cast.

Tommy Lee Jones will play Thaddeus Stevens, a Republican leader and powerful congressman from Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives. Stevens was a staunch supporter of abolishing slavery and was critical to writing the legislation that funded the American Civil War.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, known for his roles in Inception, (500) Days of Summer, and next year’s The Dark Knight Rises, will take on the role of Robert Todd Lincoln, eldest son of President Lincoln and the only one to live past his teenage years.

Also in negotiations to join the film are David Costabile, Byron Jennings, Dakin Matthews, Boris McGiver, Gloria Reuben, Jeremy Strong, and David Warshofsky.

The screenplay for the film, currently titled Lincoln, is based on the 2005 book Team of Rivals, written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and was penned by writer Tony Kushner, who previously worked with Spielberg on Munich. The film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to abolition and the end of the Civil War. Shooting will begin later this year for release in the fourth quarter of 2012.

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DreamWorks Studios today announced that two-time Oscar winning actress Sally Field has joined the cast of Steven Spielberg’s Abraham Lincoln film. The actress will play Mary Todd Lincoln, wife to the 16th President of the United States. Daniel Day-Lewis was cast as Lincoln last November.

Here are quotes from the press release:

“I’m excited to be working with Sally for the first time,” said Steven Spielberg. “I’ve admired her films and she has always been my first choice to portray all the fragility and complexity that was Mary Todd Lincoln.”

“To have the opportunity to work with Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis and to play one of the most complicated and colorful women in American history is simply as good as it gets,” said Sally Field.

The screenplay for the film, currently titled Lincoln, is based on the 2005 book Team of Rivals, written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and was penned by writer Tony Kushner, who previously worked with Spielberg on Munich. The film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to abolition and the end of the Civil War. Shooting will begin later this year for release in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The Academy should just give them the Oscars now.

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It was announced today that Daniel Day-Lewis will play the 16th President of the USA in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, contrary to many previous rumors that Mr. Lincoln would be portrayed by Liam Neeson.

Spielberg and Stacey Snider (co-chairman / CEO of DreamWorks Studios) commented on this casting news:

“Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema’s distant future. I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with Lincoln,” said Steven Spielberg.  “Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material,” added Stacey Snider, “which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for Lincoln.”

The screenplay for the film is based on the 2005 book Team of Rivals, written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and was penned by writer Tony Kushner, who previously worked with Spielberg on Munich. Regarding the direction the film will take:

It is anticipated that the film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to abolition and the end of the Civil War.

We could be in for some very intense, powerful viewing.

Spielberg’s last film was 2008′s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which didn’t meet a great reaction from fans of the franchise. I thought it was okay, but nothing special. The director has two films coming out in 2011: War Horse, and The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (which I’m especially looking forward to). Next year should show us whether he’s back on form, and considering how many brilliant films he’s made in the past, I really hope he is.

As for Daniel Day-Lewis, he was absolutely fantastic in There Will Be Blood and Gangs of New York, and to be honest, I’m looking forward to seeing him play anyone in the future, especially as it’s quite a rarity for him to actually take up a role. Let’s just hope Lincoln is less in-your-face about the President’s greatness than the 1939 film Young Mr. Lincoln.

Filming for Lincoln will apparently start in fall 2011, in anticipation of a fourth quarter 2012 release. This will most likely shoot before Robopocalypse then.

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Ever since Sherlock Holmes became a hit in December people have been speculating as to who will play Professor Moriarty (the shadowy figure who was revealed to be the mastermind behind Rachel McAdams’ dirty work) in the sequel. There were reports earlier this year that Brad Pitt had discussions with the producers to play Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes 2, but nothing seems to have come of those talks to date.

Well SHH has posted a speculative report today which suggests director Guy Ritchie may want two-time Oscar winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis to play Holmes’ nemesis in the sequel.

Lewis, being the actor he is, has only made 4 films in the past 12 years and none of them have been of the franchise type, so there is a high possibility that he wouldn’t accept the role. He has nothing lined up at the moment, but making highly commercial stuff isn’t really his thing.

If Lewis doesn’t work out SHH says that the other actors possibly in consideration include Sean Penn, Javier Bardem and Gary Oldman. These are well respected actors so Guy Ritchie and Warner Bros. are obviously aiming high, and i’m sure people would be happy with either one of them.

Sherlock Holmes 2 will begin filming towards the end of the year so we can expect a Moriarty casting announcement over the upcoming weeks/months.

Who do you think should play Professor Moriarty?

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Yahoo! have a new video which shows the cast of Nine rehearsing their musical numbers for the film. It’s not one of those a behind the scenes shaky cams, it’s a bit more professional and shows footage for the film alongside the rehearsal footage.

Who would have guessed Penelope Cruz was that flexible? Even though it’s a musical I will probably see as there’s quite a lot of talent in the film. And Kate Hudson.

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Ok, Weinstein Company. It took you long enough to notice that you were crowding Thanksgiving releases with your award-hopefuls. Viggo Mortensen by-the-way of John Hillcoat has The Road, another Cormac McCarthy adaptation drama, this time with cannibalism, opens for Thanksgiving and has also been delayed almost a year to hit its award stride.

The newest victim of jockeying for awards positions is The Weinstein Company’s movie musical based on a Broadway musical based on a play based on a Fellini film, Nine. Nine stars Daniel Day Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard and Nicole Kidman which should already have Academy members salivating. It’s the newest directorial effort from Rob Marshall, who won Oscar gold in 2003 with Chicago and will be bringing us the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film our way in the future.

Nine has been pushed from its November 25th opening, which would put it in competition with The Road, to a December 18th release date in New York and LA, expanding wide on Christmas Day.

Because who doesn’t want a musical on Christmas? Eh? Eh?

This year has been full of choppy waters for The Weinstein Company, who barely kept their heads above water with Inglorious Basterds doing the lionshare of the profit-raising this year. Now all they need is more awards presence and they might live on to make…I dunno, Halloween 3?

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Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren and…Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas are all in an upcoming musical called Nine (not to be confused with the upcoming animated movie 9). The trailer can be seen below. I’m not a musical type of person but they have put together a heck of a cast and anything with Daniel Day-Lewis in deserves to be seen whether it has musical numbers or not.

Nine is directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago) and tells the story of world famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life

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The Weinstein Company have released an image of Rob Marshall’s musical Nine, which started filming recently.

From left to right: Judi Dench smoking, Penelope Cruz with a weird leg position, this years Best Actress Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Fergie with her legs open as usual, Nicole Kidman and Kate Hudson. Oh, and Daniel Day-Lewis is the dude with his back to us.

Nine tells the story of world famous film director Guido Contini, who faces a personal and professional crisis as he struggles to prepare his latest picture, while balancing the numerous women in his life — his wife, his mistress, his movie star muse, his costume designer, a fashion journalist, a whore from his childhood, and his mother.

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According to Variety, song woman Fergie is in negotiations to join the musical Nine, which will be directed by Rob Marshall. The casting decision came after Marshell decided he needed a women who looks like she could take a big one as well as sing. If these negotiations go well she will play Saraghina, a lusty woman who introduces Daniel Day-Lewis’s character to the world of sexuality.

As well as two time Oscar winner Lewis, the film will also star Oscar nominees Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson, and Oscar winners Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench and Marion Cotillard.

Rehearsals will begin in August with filming scheduled to begin in October. It will be interesting to see Daniel Day-Lewis in a musical, as we haven’t seen him in express his vocal cords to a beat before.

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