Not only is Sam Raimi producing the new adaptation of 1970s cult classic Magic that was announced last year, but THR reports that he’s now officially on board to direct.
Magic will reunite the director with Send Help writers Mark Swift &Damian Shannon(Freddy vs. Jason).
The “newly imagined” take on the 1978 killer doll movie comes courtesy of Lionsgate, with Roy Lee, Chris Hammond, and Tim Sullivan also on board to produce the upcoming movie.
Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi are overseeing the new project for Lionsgate.
The originalMagic starred Anthony Hopkins as Corky, a magician who reaches fame alongside his ventriloquist’s dummy, the obnoxious and wisecracking Fats, whom Corky cannot control.
Fats is one terrifying dummy, too. His ghastly appearance terrified viewers even before its release with the film’s terrifying TV ads, which declared, “Magic is fun—we’re dead.”
Considering the psychological warfare that broke out between the two lead characters of Send Help, Sam Raimi is an inspired choice to take on this project. It also means Raimi is sticking with horror, which is even better news.
The 1978 psychological horror movie was directed by Richard Attenborough and written by William Goldman, adapting his own novel.
I wrote in my celebration of the original film’s 45th anniversary, “Magic wasn’t the first time that a ventriloquist was terrorized by his own dummy, but its emphasis on the psychological, Hopkins’ intense performance, and Attenborough opting for straightforward tension without a hint of camp elevated the film into something that holds up well.”
Get acquainted with Fats and his film on streaming now. It’s playing on a variety of platforms from Shudder to Screambox, and get ready. Raimi is about to bring some Magic.