No Escape For Houdini As Sony Brings In Max Landis For Re-Writing Duties

Chronicle scribe Max Landis has been ushered in to perform re-writes on Houdini – Sony’s planned cinematic offering, amid a sudden glut of projects about this magical man who has long fascinated filmmakers.

The infamous escapologist and illusionist appeared in several movies himself between 1906 and 1923, and has since been portrayed by many other actors – including Tony Curtis, Wil Wheaton, Harvey Keitel and Guy Pearce. Now, 88 years after his death, the world of entertainment is bracing itself for a veritable cavalcade of Houdini projects – each offering a unique angle on this dedicated showman.

While the History Channel are planning a biopic mini-series that will see Academy Award winner Adrien Brody as Houdini, Dean Parisot – who previously directed Galaxy Quest and Red 2 – is slated to helm an action adventure film featuring Houdini as the central heroic character. That film will shoot from a Noah Oppenheim (The Maze Runner) script for Summit Entertainment. Sony’s version will have an entirely different, darker tone, however, as Landis works his magic on a script originally completed by Scott Frank (The Wolverine), with a distinct HP Lovecraft influence.

Since he penned the critically acclaimed 2012 film Chronicle, Max Landis has put together an impressive upcoming slate, including American Ultra, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, Frankenstein, starring Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy, and Me Him Her, which has Alia Shawkat and Geena Davis attached, and will be Landis’ feature-length directorial debut. All eyes will be on his Houdini, however, as it battles to emerge victorious among competing projects.