(Left) Director Sam Raimi on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘Send Help’. Photo by Brook Rushton. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. (Right) Anthony Hopkins in 1978’s ‘Magic’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Preview:
- Sam Raimi will next tackle a remake of 1970s horror ‘Magic’.
- The original starred Anthony Hopkins.
- ‘Send Help’ writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon crafted the script.
Sam Raimi has built a healthy reputation as a horror filmmaker. While he’s proved able to leap across genres, scaring people is his first love (just ask occasional collaborator Bruce Campbell).
Deadline reports that to follow up his most recent effort, darkly comic survival thriller ‘Send Help’, he’s aboard a remake of 1978 horror thriller ‘Magic’, about a rogue, supernatural ventriloquist’s drama.
“Meet Linda Liddle… She’s from strategy and planning. She’s the boss now.”
Release Date: Jan 30, 2026
Run Time: 1 hr 53 min
Budget: $40,000,000
Lionsgate, which had the rights to the 1978 film, has hired Raimi to handle the new movie, and it sounds like something he could have a lot of fun with.
Related Article: Every Movie of Director Sam Raimi’s Career Ranked Including ‘Send Help’
What’s the story of ‘Magic’?
Anthony Hopkins in 1978’s ‘Magic’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Adapted from William Goldman’s 1976 novel, the original movie starred Anthony Hopkins as a ventriloquist who finds himself controlled by his malicious puppet at a time when he has a chance to find happiness with a rekindled romance.
For the new version, Raimi is teaming back up with ‘Send Help’ writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon.
New ‘Magic’ movie: the studio talks
Director Sam Raimi at San Diego Comic-Con
Here’s what Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson had to say about working with Raimi:
“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.”
(L to R) Director Sam Raimi, Dylan O’Brien, and Rachel McAdams on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘Send Help’. Photo by Brook Rushton. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Discussion about this post