Wow, where did all the sudden interest in joining Robert Redford’s Abraham Lincoln assassination flick, The Conspirator, come from? Over the last few days a total of six names have been added to the cast list and they are (in alphabetical order): Alexis Bledel (Sin City), Toby Kebbell (RocknRolla), Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda), Justin Long (Drag Me To Hell), Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler) and Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton). The six new additions join the previously announced James McAvoy and Robin Wright Penn.
Being directed by Redford from a script by James Solomon, The Conspirator focuses on the real-life Mary Surratt (being played by Penn), one of the alleged co-conspirators of The Lincoln Assassination, as well as focusing on the man, Frederick Aiken (being played by McAvoy), who reluctantly agreed to defend her in court. The film is different from the other Lincoln-related movie in the works – Steven Spielberg’s aptly titled Lincoln – in that it’s NOT a biopic focusing on the former President.
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So who will the new Conspirators play? Well, it’s as follows (thanks to The Playlist, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety for the info):
- Long will play a soldier who lost a limb in the Civil War and is McAvoy’s, “best friend and conscience.” It’ll be interesting to see how he copes with a period drama, as he’s been known mostly for being the guy on the “Mac vs. PC” commercials.
- Wood is playing Surratt’s daughter, Anna, debunking the rumors that she’s replacing Penn.
- Word is that Kebbell has joined the cast to play Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, although his part is apparently not that huge in the film.
- Wilkinson will play Reverdy Johnson, the former attorney general who, as U.S. Senator, is the mentor to the young lawyer, Aiken, and who’s sympathetic to Surratt.
- Kline will play Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s War Secretary.
- And Bledel will play Aiken’s wife, Catherine Morgan.
Suddenly The Conspirator is a film to sit up and take notice of, sporting a killer cast. And I imagine there’s a couple more names to be added to the list, not least the casting of Lincoln himself (although, like Booth’s appearance, I imagine he won’t be in the story that much). I was already looking forward to the project because it’s being directed by Robert Redford (I was one of the few people who really like Lions for Lambs) and it has McAvoy playing one of the leads (he’s really building a fantastic career for himself). However, this latest slew of casting additions just heightens my anticipation.
Bonus: The Conspirator has already started filming in Georgia, and we already have a few set photos! Get a look at some of the cast in their period garb:
For a couple of more set photos, as well as a short set video, you can head over to The Playlist.
What do you think of the most recent casting additions for The Conspirator? Are you looking forward to this movie or is it not your cup of tea?
As stated, filming of The Conspirator has already begun in Georgia, but no release date has been set as of yet.
Sources: ThePlaylist, THR and Variety
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13 Comments
McAvoy alone was enough to get me into the theater, but this cast and director has the making of being a real classic with lots of awards potential.
I also love the fact that they are making an effort to be historically accurate in The Conspirator. I feel insulted when film makers change the facts for the sake of entertainment value.
I agree with you about “Lions for Lambs”. I didn’t see it in the theater because of poor reviews, but when I did watch it, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It think it suffered from the same audience apathy all the other Iraq war films have with the exception of “The Hurt Locker”.
Besides Redford and a very impressive cast (Kline as Stanton is particularly clever touch), this project also has a promising screenwriter in James Solomon. While this will be his first film script, he also wrote and produced a really good ESPN mini-series called “The Bronx is Burning”, which follows the Yankees in the 1977 World Series win, along with the Son of Sam murders and the mayoral race. Being neither a Yankees fan nor a New Yorker, I was impressed with hown much work Solomon put into both the research and the dialogue.
If that’s any indicator of Solomon’s talent, this could easily end up being Redford’s best film of the past quarter-century (aside from QUIZ SHOW, of course).
From all indications, The Conspirator looks like it going to be worth watching. I’m so there for this one.
Also, I saw “Lions for Lambs” on cable a couple of weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was (and normally, I’m not a Tom Cruise fan). Too bad the critical reviews for it were less than great.
I trust the cast doesn’t overrun the story. I love the idea accuracy as well. (LC) As the cast grows in stature, what kind of price tag is the studio looking at? Will this be more of an indie or edge toward blockbuster status? Always fascinating to watch Redford reshape the film industry.
Using Frederck Aiken as the lead is sketchy to say the least!Historicaly my research on his total background just does not add up!He is a Historical Enigma!
JB: I’m guessing 30M. While the cast isn’t superstar level (yet), it does have some heavy hitters (McAvoy, Kline, Wilkinson). Thankfully, the movie has only one main location (Savannah), so that will definitely cut down on expenses.
Have to say that Redford wasted no time in getting this project up and running. It was first announced in August, casting began in September, and now it’s filming.
elessar: Redford is a great storyteller. Can’t wait to see it. Any word on a release date? Interesting all the Lincoln projects in the works. What’s driving that you think? There are so many great stories in history, glad to see more people taking interest.
How did you get The Civil War Record on Frederick A Aiken?He is a very hard man to track down with proof about his mysterious background.I have been a Civil War researcher for 35yrs and co-authored a book.Will someone please Respond?
Who has been cast as Fanny Seward?
Katherine “Kat” Slatery of Alpharetta GA auditioned for the part and had a call back , but has heard nothing. So is that good or bad?
JB: I’m guessing Fall 2010, preceded by debuts at either Venice, Telluride, or Toronto. As for the interest in Lincoln, I’m certain that a) the bicentennial of his birth, b) Spielberg’s attempt to put together a biopic, and c) recent historical/political developments all coalesced to boost interest in Honest Abe.
Looks to me like this film is shaping up to be a great one. Have been able to watch some of the filming & got some cool video myself the other night. Have also seen the pages and the story is dramatic to say the least. Mcavoy and Wright Penn have some serious work to do here. The settings are historic & having watched the area right outside of my office transformed into a Washington D.C. alleyway in front my eyes was an experience in itself.
Patrick Slatery: Has Kat heard anything? There is no mention of the Sewards in the pages.
Great photos of Robin Wright by Britt Anderson on Savannah GA Facebook page.
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