The Spiel signs on to shot the “Team of Rivals” movie (you know, that super popular book about Abraham Lincoln?) in Richmond and Petersburg. Not only that, DANIEL DAY-LEWIS will play Lincoln! Win!

From the Governor’s office:

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell today announced Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg will shoot his highly anticipated major feature film Lincoln in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The film is based on the book “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin and will be shot in the Richmond and Petersburg areas. Filming will begin in the Fall and the movie is slated for release in 2012.

Spielberg/Dreamworks has owned the rights to the super popular book since 2001 — which is four years before the publication of the book! Daniel Day-Lewis will be playing the lead roll after Liam Neeson turned it down. Major upgrade if you ask me.

It’s unclear from the release whether the entirety of the film will be shot in the Richmond / Petersburg area. Also unclear is if Spielberg is directing the film or just producing it.