Becoming Houdini Is A Magical Spy Thriller Influenced By John Wick, The Hunger Games, and The Color Purple

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As a fan of both history and mystery, I am absolutely thrilled about Disney’s upcoming biopic, “Becoming Houdini“. Growing up, I was always captivated by tales of illusion and escape, and Harry Houdini was the epitome of that fascination. The idea that this enigmatic figure might have been a spy adds an extra layer of intrigue that has me hooked.

Disney is currently working on an exciting spy thriller biography about a magician, and they’ve got a talented creative team ready to bring this unique story to life. It’s important to note that this project is not connected to the Now You See Me series.

As reported exclusively by Deadline, the film ‘Becoming Houdini’ delves into the life of the man behind the iconic illusionist and escape artist, Harry Houdini. From 1900 to his death in 1926, Houdini was a globally recognized figure, both as a stage performer and a movie star. However, beyond the public persona, there remains the question: did they truly know him? Was he possibly a secret agent?

The team behind the magic

The film titled “Becoming Houdini” is penned by not just one, but two talented writers – Michael Finch (from the movie John Wick: Chapter 4) and Alex Litvak. Scott Sanders and Danny Strong will be in charge of its production.

Finch and Litvak first collaborated as co-writers in the 2010 cult movie, “Predators”. Since then, Finch has been actively writing, amassing almost a dozen credits for films such as “Hitman: Agent 47” and “American Assassin”. Upcoming is his work on the remake of “Highlander”, starring Henry Cavill.

More recently, Scott Sanders has been responsible for creating the hit musicals “In the Heights” and “The Color Purple”. Meanwhile, Danny Strong is making his producer debut with “Becoming Houdini”, but he previously wrote for both parts of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” and has also produced the critically acclaimed miniseries “Dopesick”.

It seems that the team behind this project consists of writers skilled in portraying spy and action elements, as well as producers experienced with handling large ensembles, grand sets, and emotionally profound narratives. This setup appears fitting for the intricate life of Houdini.

Was Houdini the original James Bond?

1874 saw the birth of Houdini, originally known as Erik Weisz, in Hungary. When he was only four years old, his family decided to move to the United States and settle there. During his childhood, Wisconsin became his home. As a teenager, he resided at a boarding house situated in the Upper East Side of New York City.

At seventeen years old, Houdini embarked on a magical career and started touring across America. Following his groundbreaking success in 1899, he became a globally recognized figure, venturing throughout Europe during the years preceding World War I.

The term “becoming” suggests that the movie will delve into the formative years of the magician’s life, much like an origin story reminiscent of a Marvel character. The film may draw upon a 2006 book titled “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero“. In this book, authors William Kalush and Larry Sloman propose a comprehensive theory about Houdini’s secret involvement in espionage.

Get this: the actual government website for the CIA has a whole article about Houdini, Kalush, and Sloman’s book and the legitimacy of Houdini’s spydom. The conclusion?

Historian Richard Kohn, specializing in magic, feels it’s inaccurate to label Houdini as a James Bond-style spy. Rather, he viewed Houdini as an observer who shared his findings or insights.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, they sure love to dramatize things in Tinseltown! It’s all part of the enchantment of cinema, right?

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2024-12-12 23:08