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Steven Spielberg has been talking about making a bio-pic of Abraham Lincoln for nearly two decades. For years Liam Neeson was attached to play the bearded president, but recently Daniel Day-Lewis has taken up the lead role in Lincoln. But it looks like the project is finally moving forward as a second cast announcement has been made: Sally Field will play Mary Todd Lincoln.

Initially it seemed part of Spielberg’s attraction to the material was to follow in the footsteps of John Ford, as Spielberg has always been a fan of the Ford film Young Mr. Lincoln. But Spielberg twenty years on from Schindler’s List seems less likely to make a hagiography, and instead find his events or focus that show a great but human man.

What isn’t known is how the film will deal with the couple’s sexuality. Field is currently 64, while Day-Lewis is 53. We’re not going to see their courtship (though perhaps in flashback), but long has it been rumored that Lincoln was a homosexual, which has led to the term “log-cabin Republicans” in deference to the president, and homosexual republicans.

The film will be based on the book  “Team of Rivals,” by Doris Kearns Goodwin, with a screenplay from Tony Kushner, best known for his play “Angels in America.” Kushner collaborated with Spielberg on the screenplay for Munich. Spielberg has two films due at the end of 2011, likely this would be his 2012 Oscar contender.

Are you excited for Spielberg’s Lincoln?

I'm reading: Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln adds Sally Field as Mary Todd