STEVEN SPIELBERG - STEVEN SPIELBERG LINCOLN FILM FOR 2009

Steven Spielberg has confirmed he would like to start work on an Abraham Lincoln biopic next year.

Talking to German magazine Focus, the Indiana Jones director said he would like to take on the project after Tintin, which is expected to go into production in early September.

Marvin Levy, Spielberg's spokesman, confirmed the plans to the Los Angeles Times on Sunday.

According to the report, Spielberg has lined up Liam Neeson to portray the 16th US president.

Neeson, who played Oskar Schindler in Schindler's list, is said to have agreed to the part three years ago.

"I want to start 'Lincoln' in early 2009, because it's Lincoln's 200th anniversary," Spielberg told the magazine.

It was thought the director would start on "The Trial of the Chicago Seven," a film about the trial of anti-Vietnam war protestors, but reportedly had script problems after the writers' strike.

Spielberg is currently promoting "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", which is due to premier at Cannes next Sunday.