Movie to feature a Lovecraft influence…
‘Chronicle’ scribe Max Landis is set to give Sony’s long-development Harry Houdini project a new lease of life having signed on to pen a new draft for the studio.
The project, first announced back in 2011 with Francis Lawrence (‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,’ ‘Water for Elephants’) directing from a script by Scott Frank, centres on the famous escape artist and illusionist striving to expose a troubled, beautiful spiritualist as a fraud. As he becomes obsessed with her, he starts to believe she is authentic, only to uncover what appears to be a tragic scam.
According to Deadline, Landis’ draft of the script will feature a HP Lovecraft influence. Jimmy Miller is board to produce.
The project is not to be confused with Summit Entertainment’s Houdini project, which has Dean Parisot (‘RED 2,’ ‘Galaxy Quest’) circling the director’s chair. Penned by Noah Oppenheim, that project is based on William Kalush and Larry Sloman’s book ‘The Secret Life Of Houdini: The Making Of America’s First Superhero,’ and paints a picture of Houdini as a master spy.