Houdini Biopic To Be Directed By Dan Trachtenberg
“10 Cloverfield Lane” director Dan Trachtenberg is in talks to direct a biopic on Harry Houdini.
Still fresh off the success of the surprise hit ’10 Cloverfield Lane’, director Dan Trachtenberg is now looking to direct a biopic of the master illusionist Harry Houdini for Lionsgate. The script from Noah Oppenheim (“Jackie”) is based on the book “The Secret Life of Harry Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero” by William Kalush and Larry Sloman.
For those of you wondering how a Houdini movie hasn’t been made before now, this movie has actually been stuck in development hell at Lionsgate since at least 2011. At one point, Johnny Depp was attached to play the titular illusionist but like many projects, this eventually fell apart. I’m not sure if it had more to do with Depp’s schedule at the time or the multiple hits his career has taken since he expressed interest in the film, but either way Depp no longer appears to be involved.
The film doesn’t currently have a replacement for Depp but my instincts tell me Lionsgate will want to fast track this one so don’t be surprised if we hear some casting news in the next few months. Whether Trachtenberg plans to keep Oppenheim’s script remains to be seen.
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This was first reported by Deadline
