Steven Spielberg chased Daniel Day-Lewis for the title role in Lincoln for nine years before the actor committed to the role. After the director met with him for the first time, Day-Lewis sent him a letter explaining why he could not take part in the project. Spielberg had the script rewritten for him and he rejected it yet again.
Spielberg brought in Tony Kushner, who previously wrote Munich for him, to write a more character-oriented story that was eventually made into the film. After Day-Lewis turned him down, Spielberg approached Liam Neeson to play the role, who prepared for the role extensively. However, Neeson left the project in 2010 and it circled back to Day-Lewis once again.
Steven Spielberg Had To Go The Extra Mile To Convince Daniel Day-Lewis To Star In Lincoln
While presenting the New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Actor to Daniel Day-Lewis in 2013 for the film Lincoln, Steven Spielberg revealed the rejection letter that the actor had written him initially. Spielberg’s initial script for the project based on the 16th president’s life was a sweeping war epic. However, Day-Lewis was not ready to accept the fearless President role at the time.
He shared in the rejection letter that he could only commit to the role if he found the subject relevant to his personal needs at that specific moment in time. He shared that while he was fascinated with the story of Abraham Lincoln, he made it clear that the fascination was that of a spectator rather than a participant. Day-Lewis’ letter read (via THR):
Dear Steven,
It was a real pleasure just to sit and talk with you. I listened very carefully to what you had to say about this compelling history, and I’ve since read the script and found it in all the detail in which it describes these monumental events and in the compassionate portraits of all the principal characters, both powerful and moving. I can’t account for how at any given moment I feel the need to explore life as opposed to another, but I do know that I can only do this work if I feel almost as if there is no choice; that a subject coincides inexplicably with a very personal need and a very specific moment in time. In this case, as fascinated as I was by Abe, it was the fascination of a grateful spectator who longed to see a story told, rather than that of a participant. That’s how I feel now in spite of myself, and though I can’t be sure that this won’t change, I couldn’t dream of encouraging you to keep it open on a mere possibility. I do hope this makes sense Steven, I’m glad you’re making the film, I wish you the strength for it, and I send both my very best wishes and my sincere gratitude to you for having considered me.
In response to the rejection letter, Spielberg had the script rewritten and sent again to Day-Lewis. The actor rejected this script as well, which eventually led Spielberg to Tony Kushner. Kushner’s script was about the President working to pass the 13th Amendment, while also dealing with his personal life. It was a different film than what Spielberg had initially proposed to the actor.
During an interview with Awardsline, Spielberg recounted the encounter with the Gangs of New York actor. He shared that Day-Lewis had six years to think about the initial proposal before the director turned to him once again.
How Did Steven Spielberg Manage to Bring Daniel Day-Lewis On Board?
Steven Spielberg‘s alternate choice for Lincoln, Liam Neeson, quit the role in 2010. It was a year after the death of his wife Natasha Richardson. Spielberg eventually circled back to Daniel Day-Lewis but this time he had some help. During the interview with AwardsLine, he shared that Tony Kushner’s script and a good word from Leonardo DiCaprio did the work for him.
After DiCaprio put in a call to the actor, he agreed to read the Tony Kushner script. He eventually made the decision to take on the character. The Jurassic Park director told AwardsLine:
What really did the trick was when he read the Tony Kushner script, and I was able to get a take two, because my good buddy Leo DiCaprio simply called him up one day and said, ‘You need to reconsider this. Steven really wants you for this, and he’s not willing to make the movie without you.’ So Daniel, based on Leo’s phone call to him, offered to read the Tony Kushner script…
Spielberg continued:
Once he read the script, then he really had to come to terms with the big decision he would eventually have to make, which was, ‘Can I, with honor, equip this character in a way I’ll be able to live with the rest of my life?’
Spielberg’s film was nominated for twelve Academy Awards and it won the Best Actor award for Day-Lewis and the Best Production Design award. The film did well both critically and commercially, grossing $275 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).
Lincoln is now available for streaming on Paramount+.
