Ben Affleckis attached to star in Disney’sHarry Houdinimovie from10 Cloverfield LanedirectorDan Trachtenberg, but not as the magician himself.
Based onWilliam KalushandLarry Sloman’s bookThe Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero, the project has been in development for several years, as Trachtenbergsigned on whenit was in the works at Lionsgate. That studio seems to have put it into turnaround, and now, somehow,Jeff Robinovof Studio 8 has stepped in and set it up at Disney, according to a new profile inthe Hollywood Reporter.
Noah Oppenheim(Jackie) wrote the script about the master illusionist, who also investigated the occult and was an adventurer of sorts, so the film is expected to be about more than mere magic.
However, in a twist worthy of Houdini himself, Affleck isnotexpected to play the title character. According to a follow-up report fromSlashFilm, Affleck has agreed to play “a supporting character who is some kind of agent” and may operate in the same circles as Houdini.
Interestingly enough,Johnny Deppwas originally going to play Houdini (or so I assumed) in this same project back whenDean Parisotwas attached to direct. Personally, I’d like to seeRobert Downey Jr.tackle Houdini on the big screen, but Affleck is certainly an upgrade over Depp, and I was a big fan of his performance asGeorge ReevesinHollywoodland, so perhaps another period piece will suit him just as well.
Here’s theAmazonsynopsis forThe Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero:
Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini’s life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.The Secret Life of Houdinitraces the arc of the master magician’s life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame — his legacy later threatened by a group of fanatical Spiritualists led by esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.
Affleck recently signed on to star inGeorge Clooney’s next movieThe Tender Bar, and you canclick herefor more on that Amazon project. He’s also slated to directThe Big Goodbye, which chronicles the making ofChinatown.
