Sam Raimi Revives Magic, Cult Horror with Anthony Hopkins
Raimi was initially involved as a producer but reportedly decided on greater involvement.
Sam Raimi has chosen his next project, and it marks a full return to psychological horror. After the success of Send Help, the director of The Evil Dead will direct the remake of Magic, a 1978 thriller starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and still considered one of the most unsettling titles related to the world of ventriloquism.
The original film told the story of Corky, a failed illusionist who finds success thanks to Fats, a dummy with an aggressive and dominant personality. Over time, however, the boundary between the man and the puppet began to crumble, transforming the narrative into a descent into paranoia and mental dissociation.
The Return of a Forgotten Nightmare
Raimi was initially only involved as a producer, but reportedly decided to take direct creative control of the project. Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, who have previously collaborated with the director, will return to write the screenplay.
For many genre fans, Magic seems like perfect material for his style: seemingly innocent objects that become threats, protagonists unable to distinguish reality from madness, psychological tension accompanied by sudden horror explosions.
Lionsgate has called the pairing of Raimi and the film one of the strongest creative matches in recent years. And knowing the director, it's hard to imagine a timid or nostalgic remake.