While more prominent actors such as Josh Lucas and Adrien Brody recently auditioned for the role of Abraham Lincoln in Timur Bekmambetov’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the lead role has been given to Benjamin Walker. Variety (via /Film)

The young actor will be taking on the part of the sixteenth, much-loved President in 20th Century Fox’s adaptation of the Seth Grahame-Smith novel of the same name, and also that it’ll be gearing up for production in March.

A decent amount of male actors were considered for the role, with the ones who were screen-tested, other than those mentioned above, were James D’Arcy and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Neither story seems to give an explanation as to why he was chosen over those contenders. However, I’m assuming he got the part simply due to the talent he showed his screen-tests and not because of anything else. Hiring him over a more bankable lead seems to show confidence in him, and I hope it pays off. Funnily enough, Walker played the less-loved President Andrew Jackson both on- and off-Broadway in the play Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.

The film is scripted by Grahame-Smith, the aforementioned author of the novel of the same name. The movie is, naturally, going to be in 3D, and tells the story of Lincoln’s quest to destroy every vampire, which is supposed to be the real reason behind the Civil War. Grahame-Smith is also the author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which is having its own film adaptation going through some troubles as of late. Still, to get even one of your written works to a movie theater screen is quite the feat, even if it’s through geek-baiting material such as this.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is set to open in theaters June 22, 2012.

What do you think of this casting? Are you excited for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?