Sam Raimi is heading again into horror territory with a brand new tackle Magic, the unsettling 1978 psychological horror movie that initially starred Anthony Hopkins as a troubled ventriloquist whose dummy slowly takes management of his life.
Lionsgate has formally tapped the Evil Useless creator and Spider-Man director to helm the remake, which is an ideal match for Raimi’s model of fashionable, twisted horror storytelling.
The unique movie was directed by Richard Attenborough and tailored by William Goldman from his personal novel. Hopkins delivered an extremely eerie efficiency as Corky, a struggling magician and ventriloquist whose creepy puppet Fat turns into extra harmful as Corky reconnects with a former love curiosity.
The function arrived years earlier than Hopkins terrified audiences in The Silence of the Lambs, however you’ll be able to completely see flashes of that chilling depth in Magic.
This new model is being written by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, who’re reuniting with Raimi and producer Zainab Azizi after working collectively on Ship Assist for twentieth Century Studios.
Raimi can be producing the movie alongside Roy Lee, whose horror résumé consists of It and Weapons. Producers Chris Hammond and Tim Sullivan, who’ve reportedly spent years pushing to get the mission made, are additionally onboard.
Lionsgate Movement Image Group chair Adam Fogelson shared his pleasure about Raimi moving into the mission, saying:
“Sam is the dream director for this mission—the truth is, his coming aboard represents one of many really nice matches of director and materials. The script is implausible, and we couldn’t be extra excited to see Sam’s route and inventive imaginative and prescient take it to a different stage. We’re completely thrilled he has chosen to direct the movie.”
Raimi is aware of the way to stability psychological horror, pressure, darkish humor, and nightmare gasoline higher than nearly anyone working right this moment. A film a few malicious ventriloquist dummy sounds tailored for him.
Raimi most just lately directed Ship Assist starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, which grew to become a shock hit earlier this yr. The movie spent two weeks on the high of the field workplace and pulled in near $100 million worldwide.
Now he’s diving again into creepy puppets, fractured minds, and horror chaos with Magic, and that feels like a fairly superior mixture.
