On July 28, 2011, it was announced that Pace had been cast in Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln", as the one-time New York City mayor Fernando Wood, an early Confederate supporter. The events in the film takes place in 1865, when Fernando Wood served in the House of Representatives. However, at the time, Wood was 53 years old, which is 20 years senior to Pace’s age when he portrayed him. In a Q&A, Spielberg revealed that he decided to offer Pace the part, after he saw his performance in "Ceremony". Of the experience of the film, Pace said that “it was a real pinnacle of what I’ve done as an actor.” The movie was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was nominated for Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Award. However, Pace was not included among the "Lincoln" ensemble’s nomination, and several bloggers were annoyed by this, including Katey Rich of Cinemablend.com and Nathaniel Rogers of The Film Experience.