By:  Eric Eisenberg

Daniel Day-Lewis was unquestionably brilliant in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (and has the Academy Award to prove it), but James Spader and Tommy Lee Jones certainly did everything in their power to steal the spotlight from him in the movie. The two veteran actors brought some much-welcomed comedic relief to the largely-serious, political drama about a crucial time in our nation’s history, and truly brought to life two key, real individuals who helped the 13th Amendment get ratified and America past the Civil War.

As great as their individual performances were, however, the two actors never actually got to share a scene together. Hopefully that will soon change.

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Spader has signed on for the upcoming drama The Homesman, the new project that Jones co-wrote and is set to both star in and direct. Spader joins an already impressive cast that also includes Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep, John Lithgow, and Tim Blake Nelson.

Set in 1855 Nebraska, the story follows a pioneer woman and a claims-jumper who are tasked with transporting three women driven insane by the frontier back to Iowa. The trade notes that Spader’s role is being kept a secret for now, but describes the part as “a swindler.”

The film will be Jones’ first feature directorial effort since 2005’s The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, though in 2005 he helmed an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy‘s The Sunset Limited for HBO.Production on The Homesman will be gearing up soon and is set to shoot down in New Mexico.

Source: Cinema Blend