Gary Ross Ditches The Hunger Games For HOUDINI

It looks like Gary Ross has ditched the Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire in order to make something that could actually be good. Ross is in negotiations to bring Houdini to the screen for Summit Entertainment.

The film will be an adaptation of the clumsily titled The Secret Life of Houdini, The Making of America’s First Superhero, which was written by William Kalush and Larry Sloman. The book is quite a read, and it’s filled with some great tales, which would be very cinematic-although the “First Superhero” tag is a bit much.

According to THR, the aim is to launch an “action-thriller franchise featuring a character who is part Indiana Jones and part Sherlock Holmes”. Noah Oppenheim penned the last draft of the script which is sure to focus on Houdini’s alleged work as a spy.

Having Ross onboard means that this could be more than a special effects spectacular, and the right star could help this to become a worthwhile franchise. Houdini was quite the showman, so they’ll need someone with a touch of charisma. The usual names spring to mind: Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr, Christian Bale etc.

Source: THR