Actor Daniel Day-Lewis has been roped in to play the 16th American president, Abraham Lincoln, in Steven Spielberg's new biopic.

"Lincoln", Spielberg's long-in-development biopic is based on the best-selling book "Team of Rivals", with a script from Pulitzer Prize winner and Academy Award-nominated writer Tony Kushner.

"Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema's distant future. I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with 'Lincoln'," hollywood.com quoted Spielberg as saying.

"Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material, which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for 'Lincoln'," said Stacey Snider, co-chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios.

It is anticipated that the film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to the end of the Civil War.