Author Seth Grahame-smith resurrects ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’

FROM BOOK TO FILM NOVELTY AUTHOR Seth Grahame-smith kick-started the current trend for books that blend genres together—literary mashups—with “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” in 2009. Not content with having Jane Austen’s characters fighting the living d

In fact, the book doesn’t just cover Lincoln’s political career; it spans most of his life, beginning with his tragic vampire encounter as a young man and chronicling the formally unknown struggle against the fanged fiends, par- alleling his rise to power and his part in the fight to end slavery. It’s a meaty concept, and “Wanted” director Timur Bekmambetov, in partnership with TimBurton, was quick to grab the rights. Grahame-Smith was awarded the task of adapting his book as a screenplay alongside, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Sherlock Holmes” writer Simon Kinberg.

Of all of the challenges inherent in the production of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” surely none can be greater than that of resurrecting Abraham Lincoln himself. The 16th president of the United States of America is also one of its most iconic; he’s among the first commanders-inchief to be photographed, and his face is emblazoned on the $5 bill.

For Seth Grahame-Smith, who wrote the book and co-wrote the screenplay, staying true to the spirit of the great man was always the most important consideration. “You have to honor the fact that he’s so beloved and such an important historical figure,” he says. “If you’re just having a laugh, I don’t think

people will go along with you.”

Archetypal

“Lincoln’s life story is an archetypal superhero origin story. He’s as close to an actual superhero as this country’s (America) ever seen. Forget about vampires. Lincoln had neither family name nor money. His mother died when he was a youngster. In fact, everybody he loved had died. With no education and armed with just his mind, he became president and saved the nation,” Smith continues.

Grahame-Smith’s vampires were polar opposites to the romantic figures captured in the pages of the books he saw on display during his tour. His creatures of the undead pay proper reverence to the classic tradition of vampires in the movies. “The vampires in our movie aren’t romantic or funny, and they certainly don’t sparkle,” he notes. “Our vampires are bloodthirsty and cunning—and most frightening of all, they’ve become a part of the fabric of everyday life, working as blacksmiths, pharmacists and bankers.”

This story covers 45 years in Abraham Lincoln’s life, from 1820 to 1865, and is set in Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana and the nation’s capital. The “vampire hunter” portion of the story offers explosive thrills, scares and stunts, but the filmmakers never forgot that they were also presenting a portrait of a beloved figure, as well as the monumental events that shaped our nation and continue to define contemporary discourse. “Everything had to be presented in a very straightforward way,” says Grahame-Smith. “We never wink at the audience; not even once. Tim Burton really supported us and protected that vision.”

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” opens July 4 in theaters nationwide in 3D and 2D format from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

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