Magician Chris Angel will soon be bringing his magical abilities to a magical movie about Mandrake the Magician. We get the magical news from the fellows of Filmwad:
A real life magician playing a magician in a movie? Never, you say. Think again, we say. It looks like television’s second favorite magician (The first one starts with “David” ad ends with “Blaine”), Criss Angel, will be starring in an upcoming adaptation of the depression era comic series, Mandrake the Magician. The film, which will be loosely based on the comic strip, based on Mr. Mandrake, a magician with special hypnotic powers who likes to duke it out with mad scientists and criminals. Sounds pretty tempting, in a ridiculous way.
I loved magic shows as a kid, and still do. Seeing a good magic show live is just a great time, and sadly the art does not seem to be celebrated like it once was. Perhaps with the onslaught of magic-related films, a new generation of illusionists will grow.
I think doing a film based on an old comic strip is a great idea. Mandrake is a great name and using the power of magic to fight crime is just plain fun. I hope Mandrake goes into the lair of a Mad Scientist that is full of electric poles, beakers and vials akin to Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory.
Casting an actual magician to play the magician in the film may be a good idea. Angel certainly knows all the tricks and can bring that knowledge to the screen, now let us just hope that he can act.
