EXCLUSIVE: Sam Raimi has been set by Lionsgate to direct Magic, a modern adaptation of the William Goldman novel that was first turned into the 1978 film that Richard Attenborough directed and Anthony Hopkins starred in. He played a ventriloquist who finds himself controlled by his malicious puppet at a time when he has a chance to find happiness with a rekindled romance. Hopkins turned in a tour de force creepy performance that presaged his Oscar-winning work in The Silence of the Lambs years later.

Raimi, creator of the Evil Dead franchise and director of the landmark 2000s Spider-Man trilogy, already was aboard to produce the project alongside Roy Lee, producer of It and Weapons. Chris Hammond and Tim Sullivan, who long have championed the project will produce alongside Raimi and Lee. Raimi Productions’ Zainab Azizi will also produce. Nathan Kahane and Paul Fishkin will executive produce alongside Andrew Childs for Vertigo.  

The project is written by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, reuniting with Raimi and Azizi from Send Help for 20th Century Studios. 

Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.

“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 Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “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.”

Raimi most recently directed the hit Send Help, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, which he produced with Azizi. It topped the box office for two weeks earlier this year and grossed around $100 million worldwide. He is represented by CAA and Hansen Jacobson Teller.