The first question that’s probably percolating in that brain of yours is who is Benjamin Walker? Well, I’ll tell you. He’s been honing his acting craft on Broadway as of late and he’s appeared in the films Flags of Our Fathers and Kinsey. He’ll next be seen in X-Men: First Class in the role of Beast.
Signing on to play the titular character in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a big coup for the young actor. Based on the best-selling period vampire novel from Seth Graham-Smith, 20th Century Fox enlisted the directing talents of Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) to make it a summer tentpole release for 2012.
The book re-imagines Lincoln’s life as an axe-throwing, skilled killer of bloodsuckers, an obsession that dates back to the death of his mother at the hands of vampires.
The next big role to be cast is the part of Henry Sturges, the man who mentors and trains Honest Abe in the ways of vampire hunting. The studio was gunning for Tom Hardy, but with his commitments to The Dark Knight Rises the part remains open.
20th Century Fox will release the film June 22, 2012.
