Vampires of the media world beware: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's novel of the same, is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality. The project, to be executive produced by Tim Burton (newest member of the Billion Dollar Club, thanks to Alice in Wonderland) and directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Day Watch), had recently been subject to a bidding war around Hollywood, a war that 20th Century Fox came out on top of.
Just so we're clear, the title is exactly what it sounds like. With a script being adapted by Grahame-Smith (famous for his novel Pride & Prejudice & Zombies), “Vampire Hunter” presents a history of the United States' 16th president who began his political career by day ... and hunted vampires by night.
With pre-production well underway and a budget nearing $70 million, Fox has expressed a hope to have the film released by 2012. Plans have already been made for a 3-D distribution, though whether the film will be shot in 3D rather than converted to the format in post-production remains to be seen.
Sources have noted how Fox went above and beyond to catch the filmmakers' attention and good graces to acquire the rights to the film. Fox did everything from hanging massive banners on their lot to scattering axes and silver around their various office (bloody footprints included).
With Burton attached, you know it'll be creepy. With Bekmambetov, you know it'll have more than one (impressive) action piece. With Grahame-Smith writing it, you'll have author's approval. Blend them together and “Vampire Hunter” could shape up to be one of the more interesting releases to come out of 2012's massive upcoming schedule.
