Sam Raimi Directing Remake of Anthony Hopkins’ Creepy Ventriloquist Movie, ‘Magic’!

BREAKING: Sam Raimi, master of horror and creator of the Evil Dead franchise, has signed on to direct a remake of Magic for Lionsgate, reports Deadline!

Based on William Goldman’s novel (he also wrote the script), the 1978 original was directed by Richard Attenborough and starred Anthony Hopkins as a ventriloquist who finds himself under the spell of his malicious puppet.

If you’ve never seen it, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s one of Hopkins’ creepiest performances, predating his work in Silence of the Lambs.

Mark Swift and Damian Shannon are writing the script, reuniting them with Raimi after penning this year’s banger, Send Help.

Raimi, meanwhile, could not be a better fit here. Along with Evil Dead, he has specialized in horror films on the weirder, over-the-top side, with titles like Darkman. Expect him to deliver another outrageous horror film in the vein of Send Help with Swift and Shannon also attached.

Raimi will produce with Roy Lee (Weapons), Chris Hammond and Tim Sullivan. Raimi Productions’ Zainab Azizi will also produce. Nathan Kahane and Paul Fishkin will executive produce alongside Andrew Childs for Vertigo.

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

Said chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Adam Fogelson, “Sam is the dream director for this project—in fact, his coming aboard represents one of the truly great matches of director and material. 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.”

No word yet on plot details for the remake.

Stay tuned to Dread for more details as we learn them.

(Update: After I posted the news on Bluesky, Mark Swift and Damian Shannon responded that this new take is “gonna be insane“. I believe them!)