‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ Writer Tapped for Houdini Film

Rob Frappier — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:05:10 +0000

In March, Screen Rant reported that Summit Media had acquired the rights to the controversial Houdini biography, The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero.

At the time, Summit Media indicated they wanted to produce a more action-oriented story about Harry Houdini, featuring the famous magician as an Indiana Jones-style adventurer. Given Summit’s vision for the film, it is unsurprising to report the company has tapped Jeff Nathanson to write and direct the Houdini movie.

Nathanson, who most recently penned Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, also wrote the screenplays for Brett Ratner’s Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3. Considering that the plot of The Secret Life of Houdini revolved around the magician’s alleged work as a British spy, it is good to see someone experienced in the action genre helming the ...

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A ‘Houdini’ Action-Thriller?

Carl Lee — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:08:18 +0000

Summit Entertainment has grabbed the rights to a biography by William Kalush and Larry Sloman, entitled The Secret LIfe of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero. To capitalize on the magician’s name, the studio intends to make an action thriller – potentially nothing like the real performer.

Against the views of magic historians, the controversial book painted Houdini as a spy for early British Intelligence as well as being asked to be an adviser to Czar Nicholas II’s court in Russia. Though the book has some details right, he did investigate and debunk psychics and mediums, it also suggests his death was part of a spiritual movement as payback.

The book was published in 2006 and now the feature-film rights have been acquired by Summit Entertainment.

The Hollywood Reporter says the studio is looking to feature a character, part-Indiana Jones and ...

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‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ Writer Tapped for Houdini Film

A ‘Houdini’ Action-Thriller?