'It has nothing to do with the current politics,' Spielberg reacts to allegation that his film is intentionally released to hype up this year's U.S. presidential election.
- Nov 1, 2012
AceShowbiz - Just in time for this year's U.S. presidential election, Steven Spielberg is set to unleash presidential-related movie "Lincoln" that has garnered positive reviews from critics so far. Though some people suggest Spielberg decides to release the film on November 9 to hype up today's politics, the veteran filmmaker insists that his movie has nothing to do with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney's race to the White House.
"I would have been very happy to have made Lincoln in the year 2000. We were ready to make it in the Bush administration," Spielberg told E! News during the press junket of the Abraham Lincoln pic. "People say, 'Oh, you made it because what's happening in politics today!' It has nothing to do with the current politics."
The "War Horse" filmmaker insisted, "It has nothing to do with holding a mirror up to the way we conduct our business on Capitol Hill today." He elaborated further, "This was meant to be a Lincoln portrait, if you will. I think anytime is the right time for a really compelling story."
As for why it took so long for him to finally make the movie, Spielberg explained that author Doris Kearns Goodwin needed more time to polish the book "Team of Rivals", which the film was based on. It also took a lot of time for Tony Kushner to pen the script and for Spielberg to tap the perfect actor to portray Abe. The director said that he wouldn't have done the pic if Daniel Day-Lewis said no.
Spielberg claimed that he never intentionally wanted to hold the release of "Lincoln" until this year's election is done. "There's a lot of confusion about - the political ideologies of both parties have switched 180 degrees in 150 years," he said. "It's just too confusing with everybody claiming Lincoln as their own."
"I just wanted people to talk about the film, not talk about the election cycle," the 65-year-old director continued. "So I thought it was safer to let people talk about the film during the election cycle, but the actual debut should come after the election's been decided."
"Lincoln" focuses on Abe's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, he pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. The much-awaited movie, which has been dubbed a potential award contender by some reviewers, will expand to wide release on November 16.
