Hunger Games director chained to Houdini

“Hunger Games” director Gary Ross will helm “Houdini”, a biopic on the famous magician.

Based on the biography, “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero,” it had Jeff Nathanson, writer of “Rush Hour”, originally attached as director.

THR says the “Houdini” book “became known for insinuating that the master magician and premier escape artist acted as a spy for Britain, helped the Secret Service and was in cahoots with police organizations. Summit picked up feature-film rights to the book in March 2009 with the aim of launching an action-thriller franchise featuring a character who is part Indiana Jones and part Sherlock Holmes.”

Noah Oppenheim wrote the screenplay.