Oh no....

I have read with some amusement over the past weeks regarding the newly released novel, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I can't argue that the premise is interesting and creative. However, an entirely new set of circumstances have come into play. As I discovered today on my beloved Internet Movie Database, the always-unusual director Tim Burton plans to make a film adaptation of the novel. In the "vampire craze" sweeping the teenage girl nation these days, I can understand why filmmakers would jump on this opportunity to potentially grab the vampire and history audiences.

Nevertheless, are these the types of movies what we want as our nation enters the Civil War Sesquicentennial? Robert Redford is in post production of his highly anticipated film The Conspirator about the aftermath of the Lincoln assassination. And, at this point, I think Steven Spielberg will never make his long-gestating Lincoln biopic which is to star the esteemed Liam Neeson. This hype leads me to this question: Will such a flick help or hurt the historical memory of these commemoration years? Will it mock Lincoln and the circumstances of the Civil War or does it have the potential to bring in new audiences to the history field? I suppose that is yet to be decided. I only hope Burton uses some historical tact and truths in presenting this "alternative" history story...if that is possible with vampires...

The following article is from Hollywood Insider:

There is no more perfect a pairing than the visually stimulating duo Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) to take on the bizarre combination of Abraham Lincoln and vampires. The two filmmakers, who previously came together to produce the animated feature 9, will re-team to make the big-screen adaptation of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the newly released novel by Seth Grahame-Smith. Grahame-Smith, who also wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, will adapt the screenplay. Jim Lemley will also produce.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter turns history on its head, telling the story of the 16th president’s secret battle with the undead–a battle that began during Lincoln’s childhood as a way to avenge his mother’s murder. With a Lincoln story this cool on the development track, will Steven Spielberg finally lay to rest his long-gestating plans for a Lincoln biopic? Hmmm.

A trailer for the book to give you a taste of the subject matter.