Anna Karenina was a big risk that paid off, which means director Joe Wright can have his pick of follow-up projects. It appears he’s interested in getting into escapology as the LA Times reports that he is in early discussions to direct The Secret Life of Houdini for Summit Entertainment. He’s taking over from Gary Ross who became attached back in May, but has bowed out to make Peter and the Starcatchers.
The project is based on the book written by William Kalush and Larry Sloman, which claims that world-famous magician Harry Houdini also led a double life as a British spy. Summit first acquired the rights to this adaptation back in 2009, when Jeff Nathanson was attached to direct. Noah Oppenheim is writing the screenplay.
It’s not the only Hodini movie in the works, as a more traditional biopic is still in the works at Sony, which Francis Lawrence is directing from a script by Scott Frank. It isn’t known when either movie might go into production.