Spielberg Will Film 'Lincoln' in Richmond Area

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg will shoot his highly anticipated major feature film “Lincoln” in Virginia.

“Lincoln” is based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals,” and will be shot in the Richmond and Petersburg areas. Filming will begin in the fall, with the movie set for release in 2012.

The film will star Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won Oscars for his roles in “My Left Foot” and “There Will Be Blood,” while Field won Oscars for her roles in “Norma Rae” and “Places in the Heart.” The film will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Spielberg for DreamWorks Studios.

“We are honored that Steven Spielberg, an award winning and visionary film maker, has chosen the Commonwealth for this important film. It is especially notable coming during the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and emancipation,” said Governor Bob McDonnell. “Steven is an exceptional storyteller who brings historic themes to life on screen, resulting in such important and influential films as ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ ‘Schindler’s List,’ ‘Munich’ and the mini-series ‘Band of Brothers.’ I have no doubt that ‘Lincoln’ will quickly join the ranks of those famous works.”

In a press release, Spielberg said Virginia’s rich historic legacy, coupled with the period architecture preserved in Richmond and Petersburg, made Central Virginia the ideal location for the movie.

The Virginia Film Office worked with the cities of Richmond and Petersburg to secure the project with an incentive package including $1 million from the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund, $2.5 million from the Virginia Motion Picture Tax Credit program and $1.1 million in in-kind contributions. The amount of funding awarded to a project is based on how many Virginia workers are hired and the purchase of Virginia-based goods and services.