Benjamin Walker is Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

From one presidential role to another. Variety brings word that 28-year-old Benjamin Walker, who had the starring role in the Broadway musical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, has signed on to portray Honest Abe in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel with the same title.

Walker, who at one time was connected to X-Men: First Class, beat out other vampire-slaying hopefuls such as Adrien Brody, Josh Lucas and James D’ Arcy for the coveted role in the 20th Century Fox film which is expected to hit theaters on June 22, 2012.

The movie is a twisted version of Abraham Lincoln’s life, telling how Abe swore an oath to hunt down and destroy all vampires after learning that one of the bloodsuckers was responsible for his mother’s death. His battle with the undead leads him to the White House, where he doesn’t let a little thing like being President stop him from carrying on with his mission.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will be directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted), who will also co-produce with Tim Burton and Jim Lemley.

Grahame-Smith’s unique mash-up stories are a big Hollywood draw, with another of his novels, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, also making the journey to the big screen, possibly with a former Princes Diaries star in a lead role… if she’s not too busy with a highly-anticipated Chris Nolan film.