If there is something that Hollywood is lacking, it’s definitely a good biopic about perhaps the greatest magician/ escapologist that ever lived, Mr. Harry Houdini. There have been rumours of a film for many years now, and some big names have been attached to planned projects over the years, including Tom Cruise and Martin Scorsese. Gary Ross, the director of THE HUNGER GAMES was the last man attached to helm, but now it looks like a feature may go ahead after HANNA and ANNA KARENINA helmer Joe Wright has been named as being ‘in talks’ to direct.
The news comes courtesy of 24 Frames who say that the Wright version will be based on the book The Secret Life Of Houdini, that ‘suggested the magician lived a secret life as a British spy and portrays him as “Indiana Jones meets Sherlock Holmes.”‘ Wow (read more about the book here).
Houdini was born in Austria in the 1870′s and was a world famous illusionist, escapologist, stage performer and even film producer and actor appearing in many motion pictures. He died of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix in 1926 aged just 52.
I for one want to see a straight Houdini biopic rather than the above, but anything to do with the famous performer excites me.
The film, which is called simply HOUDINI, is housed over at Lionsgate. We’ll keep you posted of any future updates.
Source: 24 Frames
