According to Deadline, Lionsgate has chosen Sam Raimi to direct a new adaptation of “Magic,” the psychological horror story originally written by William Goldman and adapted into the 1978 film.
Raimi had already been attached as a producer on the project before stepping into the director’s chair, marking another return to horror territory for the filmmaker behind “The Evil Dead.”
A New Version of a Disturbing Psychological Horror Story
The original “Magic,” directed by Richard Attenborough, centered on struggling magician Corky Withers, a ventriloquist whose career changes after introducing a foul mouthed dummy named Fats into his act. As his success grows, Corky’s mental state deteriorates, blurring the line between psychological collapse and supernatural influence. Hopkins played the role years before “The Silence of the Lambs” turned him into one of cinema’s defining faces of psychological terror.
The 1978 film developed a strong cult following over the decades thanks to its restrained atmosphere and Hopkins’ increasingly unstable performance. The story mixed romance, guilt, violence, and fractured identity rather than relying on conventional horror spectacle. Ann-Margret and Burgess Meredith rounded out the cast, while Jerry Goldsmith composed the score.
The road to the original production was unusually complicated. Before Attenborough took over, filmmakers including Norman Jewison and Steven Spielberg were connected to the material at different stages. Spielberg reportedly considered casting Robert De Niro in the lead role before the project ultimately moved in another direction. Goldman later described the picture as a commercial success even if it never became a major blockbuster.
For Raimi, “Magic” continues a recent stretch of darker projects. His latest feature, “Send Help,” saw him direct a survival horror thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. The film performed solidly at the box office earlier this year and received positive reviews, reinforcing Raimi’s continued pull within the horror genre.
Lionsgate has not yet announced casting details or a release window for the new “Magic,” but Raimi’s involvement immediately positions the project as one of the more closely watched horror developments currently in the studio system.