Redford’s take on Honest Abe

Do you remember that year when every film was about Robin Hood? Then every movie seemed to concern Martin Cahill

Do you remember that year when every film was about Robin Hood? Then every movie seemed to concern Martin Cahill. Following the election of another Illinois- based politico to the White House, Abraham Lincoln is now the man too many directors want to get on screen.

Steven Spielberg has long been developing a biopic starring (when last we checked) Liam Neeson as the great man. Now, while Spielberg sets off on his remake of

Harvey

, Robert Redford has announced that he will direct a film focusing on the conspiracy surrounding Lincoln’s assassination.

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“We are very happy that Redford will be doing this Lincoln movie,” Spielberg managed to say through clenched teeth. “It is completely different from what our DreamWorks Lincoln movie will be and we believe that it will add to the commercial potential of our film. Lincoln as a subject is inexhaustible.”

Donald Clarke

Donald Clarke

Donald Clarke, a contributor to The Irish Times, is Chief Film Correspondent and a regular columnist