Law and Magic Blog

WB To Bring "Mandrake" To the Big Screen

Warner Brothers is apparently giving the go-ahead to an adaptation of the "Mandrake the Magician" comic strip, according to this story from the Hollywood Reporter. So, who will play the title role? And who will provide technical expertise?

New Magician Film Signing Up Cast

According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Jesse Eisenberg ("The Social Network") and Jake Gyllenhaal ("Rendition") may star in the new "magician heist" film, "Now You See Me," being directed by Louis Leterrier and backed by Summit Entertainment ("The Beaver," "50/50"). Producers are Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman ("Star Trek"). The premise seems to be that the "world class illusionists" in the film steal from banks and enrich their audiences (and themselves?); the FBI then takes them on. (Hmmm. Didn't we already see this plot--sounds familiar--sort of Robin Hood-ish. Never mind). It could be a lot of fun if the illusions are good and the writing is clever. I wonder who the magic consultant(s) will be? 

A New Magician Movie

From The Hollywood Reporter, news about the new film The Great Magician , from Emperor Motion Pictures, which stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai, a "master illusionist in the 1900s who gets the girl and saves his country with his magic tricks." The movie, directed by Derek Yee, is currently in production.