Here’s one of those movies with an idea so bizarre it’s bound to get you at least curious enough to check it out. One of America’s legendary presidents is a highly-trained vampire assassin?? What? What? When I first heard about it back in April when Rufus Sewell was cast as the lead vampire, I learned that the movie is based on a historical fiction of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, the same author of the equally wacky Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Relative newcomer Benjamin Walker who actually played yet another US president in the rock stage musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is playing Lincoln.
Behold the International Trailer (updated 2/15):
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Here’s the full synopsis per Daily Blam!:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a re-imagining of the 16th President’s life that depicts him as an axe-throwing, highly accomplished killer of vampires — an obsession of his since those bloodsuckers supposedly took the life of his mother. Lincoln eventually learns that the vampires have fled to the southern states of the U.S. and are concocting a plan to conquer and enslave the entire country — this in turn leads to the Civil War between the Union and the Confederacy, the latter of which the vampires are aligned with.
Directed by Russian director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and produced by Tim Burton, it’s a return to the vampire genre for Bekmambetov who made two vampire thrillers set in Moscow, Night Watch and Day Watch. The gothic atmosphere set by the poster is certainly very Burton-esque, and it’s likely to be full of brutal, slo-mo Matrix-style action sequencesmixed with 19th-century period set pieces. Well whether Timur does a good job with this remains to be seen, but one thing for sure, you probably never saw this bad ass, axe-throwing side of Lincoln before.
Here’s more info about the cast:
- Dominic Cooper (The Devil’s Double) – Abraham Lincoln’s mentor
- Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) – Will, Lincoln’s best friend
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgim VS The World) – Mary Todd, Abe Lincoln’s love interest and eventual wife
- Andy Tudyk (Firefly) – Stephen A. Douglas, a strong but respected adversary of Lincoln within the Republican Party.
I can’t see most of the cast in this first trailer as there are just so much going on and the cuts are just too fast, but I guess this is more of a teaser to get us a glimpse of what to expect.
Updated 2/15: 20th Century Fox now has also released the Featurette, check it out below:
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So folks, are you game to see this one in 3D come June 22?
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Oh, this is so much not my genre, but wouldn’t miss seeing it on the big screen for anything. I’m certain I’ll have a new favorite vampire named Adam (Rufus Sewell), pushing Gerard Butler in Dracula 2000 into second place ;-D
Ahah, well I hope Rufus has decent screen time as I’m curious how he’d look w/ fangs. Gerry was quite sexy as the prince of darkness with the dark, wavy hair. I’d love to see that look on Rufus 😉
My interest has been piqued
😀
I was hoping this would be played for laughs but instead it seems to be completely serious which is a big gamble due to the super-silly premise. It could be fun but I need to see more. The action scenes look a bit on the cheap side in terms of CGI.
I sure hope the filmmakers won’t take this seriously Cas, I too think this should be done in tongue in cheek style, I mean come one, it’s GOT to be!
This could be the next ‘Priest’ aahah
Ouch, I certainly hope not Castor!
Hi, Ruth and company:
Wow! That was weird and not in a particularly intriguing way. Outside of Rufus Sewell, of course.
I’ve got a better, more interesting for the ladies in attendance (ie: Men without shirts). Though it deals with the Osama Zombie Apocalypse coming to Afghanistan.
Ahah, that’s pretty funny, especially that warning! Somehow I knew someone would mix Osama w/ zombies!!
It sounds pretty funny to me (the concept). The only thing is, it sounds like something that would need the magic touch of a small, independent movie; not so much a big budget, Tim Burton-produced movie.
Yeah the concept definitely made me chuckle! I hope that Burton got the right man for the job, so far I’ve only seen Wanted from Timur and it was pretty good.
I am going to pass, so not interested. As I have said in my last post, my movie preference have changed…plus I never like vampire that much
What do you mean your movie preference have changed?? I thought you saw Amazing Grace because of Benedict? In any case, I usually don’t care for vampire movies either, it really depends on the plot and the cast. This one seems like a unique horror as it mixes with historical people/events.
aha…you should read the opening of the post. I did watch it because of Ben, but to like a movie is never because of the actor. Have I seen the movie before I knew Cillian (yes, he is the one to be blamed) I would have said Amazing Grace is boring. But since I discover CM, I gradually like movie with impressive acting more than action
You mean ‘have I seen it before you knew Ben’ right? Cillian is not even in this movie 🙂 In any case, I think this movie will touch me no matter who the cast is, it’s the story that lingers long after the credits.
Nope…you read it correctly 😉
Before I knew Cillian. Before I knew him, I am more into action movies, but after I knew him…I like the movie that I normally skip because it might be boring…and that’s include Amazing Grace.
I might think that this Lincoln Vampire thing is to wait for if I haven’t seen the fun of seeing actors that can really act.
I hope you understand what I am trying to say.
The book was kind of silly and fun, but from this teaser, the movie will be a bit different. I was hoping for something like Sleepy Hollow but looks they went with the darker serious action tone. I don’t really care for all those silly slo-mo action sequences either. I tried watching Timur Bekmambetov’s Night Watch but got bored, I did enjoyed Wanted though.
Maybe a rental at best.
I’m still hoping the 2nd trailer will reveal a bit more about this movie and perhaps that silly & fun factor will come through. Yeah, Wanted was pretty good and I went in not expecting much. It’s preposterous of course but not more so that other Angelina action movies like Mr & Mrs Smith and Lara Croft.
I’m most definitely going to see it, mostly because Bekmambetov is director and Sewell is in it but thats about it. Maybe it will surprise me..
One a side note, the Director and Author make an appearance at the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Il, last Friday night for a late night screening of the trailer, since my brother works at the Museum he was able to attend..
Well those are the same two reasons I’ll be seeing this one Funk 🙂 Oh that’s cool that your brother got to see Timur’s appearance. Did he take any photos?
My cinema bucks are tightly budgeted nowadays and I have to think long and hard about giving cash over on a 3D pic. This may be my Avengers money 😀
Fair enough Iba, the cinema fee is so expensive these days!
this seems silly. but, for what it is, it has a unique spin. not sure if I want to watch this yet or not, but I like the poster. Thanks for putting up the trailer…I waited and watched it here first! 🙂
Why thanks T, I’m honored 🙂 Yeah I think the historical tie-in is what made this intriguing, like I said, it’s so bizarre that it at least made you curious to check out what it’s all about.
Hmm… still not sure how I feel about this. It could either be really good or really bad.
Well, isn’t every movie that way… it could be good or bad 😀
I’m interested… but scared haha. It could REALLY suck, or it could end up being a fun movie. I guess I have to see it then. Thanks for sharing Ruth 😀
Ahah, it didn’t look to be very scary Matt, I just hope it won’t end up being scarily bad 🙂
I didn’t want to be up for this. I thought it looked a silly idea. But the trailer has got me excited… Oooh the summer…. Hot nights, BBQs and Popcorn flicks…. yeay
It does look like it could be fun right? You made me excited for Summer even though it’s months away, matey 🙂
Visually it looks outstanding but other than that I can’t say I’m at all interested in seeing this now.
Hey it still might be a good one, Dan 🙂
The trailer’s very much a big tease. Lots of fighting, vampires and action. I couldn’t make out anyone’s faces. I’m a big fan of Alan Tudyk, so really looking forward to seeing him in this. He’s hugely underrated in my eyes!
Will patiently wait for a more meaty trailer now.
Totally agree about Alan Tudyk! I’m so thrilled he’s in this one and sounds like his role is pretty meaty here.
I really look forward to this film. The trailer really doesn’t have much to offer, so perhaps another trailer a couple months from now will reveal more of what we’ll actually be seeing. I’m pretty excited about Mary Winstead because I think she’ll be a good fit for the genre, given her performance in Scott Pilgrim. I plan to read the book beforehand.
Yeah, haven’t seen her in anything major since Scott Pilgrim. Cool, let me know what you think of the book, Kris.
I actually like a lot of members of that supporting cast, especially Cooper and Mackie. I’m still not sure that I’ll actually see this one though, more because the genre doesn’t appeal to me that much.