After his failed (and fake) mockumentary I’m Still Here, many were wondering what Joaquin Phoenix would follow-up with. Deadline reports it may be teaching Abe Lincoln how to eviscerate vampires.
We reported a few days that Benjamin Walker snagged the role as our 16th President in Timur Bekmambetov‘s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and now he may have his mentor. Phoenix is the frontrunner for this role in the 20th Century Fox production. He has “met on the project” and the role of Henry, “a mythic, ageless figure who turns Lincoln into an axe-throwing expert slayer of vampires” is “his if he wants it.”
The 3D film, based on (and scripted by) Seth Grahame-Smith‘s (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) tells the story of Lincoln’s quest to destroy every vampire, which is supposed to be the real reason behind the Civil War. While I wasn’t terribly fond of I’m Still Here, Phoenix did give something of a performance. I have yet to decide whether it was great or simply dedicated, but I’m eager to see the actor return to the big screen. A fun adventure film like this should be a good jump-off point for part II of his career.
The $69 million production will see a release on June 22nd, 2012.
What do you think of the potential casting of Phoenix? Ready to see him return?