Who will be Booth?

That’s the burning question as Walden Media and producer Lawrence Bender search for an actor charismatic enough to play actor-assassin John Wilkes Booth in “Manhunt.”

Whoever is chosen will costar with Harrison Ford, who recently presented at the Golden Globes and the People’s Choice Awards. Ford has already signed on to play Col. Everton Conger, who led the hunt for Booth, captured hiding in a Virginia barn. But that George Lucas-like silver goatee Ford’s been sporting may have to grow a bit to portray the heavily bearded Conger.

The period film will be based on Lincoln scholar James Swanson’s just-released, critically-hailed book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” about Honest Abe’s death, the search for the missing murderer and his henchmen in April 1865.

“I just heard a report that they’ve made an offer to someone but I haven’t heard who it is,” said Swanson, from his Washington home. "Johnny Depp would be perfect. But Will Kemp, Orlando Bloom or Christian Bale would also be good. So would Matthew McConaughey. He actually looks very much like Booth around the eyes.”

The actor who will play Booth would also have to grow and then shave off his moustache, which Booth did to avoid capture during his days hiding in swamps.

“The problem with casting someone to play John Wilkes Booth is that you really need to find another John Wilkes Booth,” says Swanson. “Theatrical, incredibly handsome, seductive, an incorrigible ladies man. When he was captured, he was carrying photos of five girlfriends.” Sounds right up Depp's dark, swaggering pirate alley.

New Ecuadorian filmmaker Sebastian Cordero is set to direct Andrew W. Marlowe and Mike Rich’s “Manhunt” screenplay. But seriously, wouldn’t Oliver Stone be a better choice to direct a movie about a conspiracy to shoot the President? Just a thought.

Steven Spielberg's not available. He's already got his own Lincoln movie, "The Uniter," based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, a film rumored to star Liam Neeson as Abe. Last time Spielberg worked with Neeson was in that little Oscar-winning picture called "Schindler's List."

Which Lincoln movie will hit theaters first? My money's on "Manhunt" if only to take advantage of the book's big buzz. Also, according to producer Kathleen Kennedy, Spielberg has another movie ahead of "Uniter." "We're definitely going ahead with the project but the Lincoln film won't be the next film Steven does," Kennedy said at the BAFTA/LA Tea Party last month.

Photo: Can Harrison Ford find Lincoln's assassin in "Manhunt," after his recent David Letterman Show appearance?
(James Devaney / WireImage)

Photo: Is this the face of John Wilkes Booth — Johnny Depp, seen here at the Golden Globes?
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)