When Sam Raimi makes a new horror movie, it’s a kind of magic. But when Sam Raimi makes a new horror movie that’s also a remake of a Richard Attenborough directed, Anthony Hopkins starring 1978 cult classic about a ventriloquist who finds himself at the mercy of his diabolical puppet? Well, in that case, it’s a kind of Magic. All of which is to say that, per Deadline‘s reporting, Sam Raimi is remaking Magic… or, more accurately, adapting anew William Goldman’s original 1976 novel. And, what’s more, he’s bringing Send Help writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift along for the creepy puppet ride.
As stated above, Magic was originally a 1976 book from William Goldman (yes, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, All The President’s Men, and The Princess Bride writer William Goldman). The story follows a failed magician, Corky, who becomes an overnight success when he starts incorporating potty-mouthed puppet Fats into his act. But here’s the rub: Fats is a murderous menace whose dominance over Corky threatens not only the magician’s fragile sanity, but also his recently rekindled romance with his high school crush. In Attenborough’s film, Hopkins delectably pulled double-duty as both puppet and master, resulting in an eerie, intense psychological thriller gilded by horror imagery. All we know so far about Raimi’s take is that it will be a modern take on Goldman’s book, though with Raimi, Shannon, and Swift at the helm of this adaptation, we think it’s safe to assume we may be in for a slightly more visceral, wild experience with these guys’ Magic.
“Sam is the dream director for this project — in fact, his coming aboard represents one of the truly great matches of director and material,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Adam Fogelson in a statement accompanying Magic‘s announcement. “The script is fantastic, and we could not be more excited to see Sam’s direction and creative vision take it to another level. We are absolutely thrilled he has chosen to direct the film.”
Having dipped his toe back into genre waters after a spell away with 2022’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Raimi took a deeper dive back into horror territory with blackly comic survival thriller Send Help earlier this year, finding in Shannon and Swift two writers more than capable of matching his outré horror freak. Here’s hoping the trio can conjure up a treat — and that nobody’s left looking a dummy — when their Magic comes to our screens.
