Dan Trachtenberg May Have Handcuffed Himself To The HOUDINI Biopic

Hey, kids, did you know there's a Houdini biopic in the works?

Psshhyeah, and guess what: 10 Cloverfield Lane's Dan Trachtenberg might be directing it! Here's the news, via Variety:

Lionsgate is eyeing 10 Cloverfield Lane director Daniel Trachtenberg for its Harry Houdini biopic, which had been in development for several years.

Frank Marshall and Bruce Cohen have been attached as producers for several years. The project is based on the 2007 biography by William Kalush and Larry Sloman that traces the life of the renowned magician from poverty to wordwide fame, providing details into his increasingly dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a plot to subvert his legacy. Houdini died on Halloween in 1926.

Oh, man, that sounds great.

Johnny Depp had been in early talks in 2014 to star as Houdini in the movie, based on the biography The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero. 

Gross.

But Depp’s deal did not go through and no other actors are currently attached.

Oh, sweet.

Also: a Houdini biopic directed by Dan Trachtenberg? I'm absolutely into this. I'd be even more into this if we were talking about a Carter Beats The Devil adaptation (shout-out if you know what that is), but this is totally doable. Trachtenberg has absolutely earned my trust - see also: Black Mirror, season three - and we're long overdue a solid Houdini movie. If Depp's outta the picture, all the better.

Anyway, nothing further to report at this time, but we'll keep you informed as updates roll in.