{"id":1937809,"date":"2026-05-15T21:52:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1937809"},"modified":"2026-05-15T21:52:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:52:56","slug":"sam-raimi-set-to-direct-magic-remake-with-script-from-send-help-writers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1937809","title":{"rendered":"Sam Raimi Set to Direct Magic Remake With Script from Send Help Writers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-28683165 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Lionsgate has tapped Sam Raimi to direct a remake of the 1978 puppet horror movie, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/magic-1978\">Magic<\/a>, and some of the crew behind <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/send-help\">Send Help<\/a> is coming with him.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/05\/sam-raimi-directing-magic-remake-lionsgate-anthony-hopkins-1236906622\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Deadline<\/u><\/a> reports that the Evil Dead and Spider-Man filmmaker has signed on to reanimate a twisted cult classic for modern audiences after previously being attached only as a producer. The remake will reunite Raimi with writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, the scribes behind January&#8217;s popular horror comedy, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/send-help\">Send Help<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Sam is the dream director for this project\u2014in fact, his coming aboard represents one of the truly great matches of director and material,&#8221; Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement. &#8220;The script is fantastic, and we could not be more excited to see Sam\u2019s direction and creative vision take it to another level. We are absolutely thrilled he has chosen to direct the film.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-313219616\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/05\/15\/sam-raimi-magic-1778877324436.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image article-image article-image-full-size jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><figcaption data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-479945570 article-image-caption\">Sam Raimi. Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The original Magic premiered in 1978 and starred Anthony Hopkins as both a ventriloquist named Corky and his lively puppet, Fats. Directed by Richard Attenborough and written by William Goldman, 20th Century Fox sold the original tale as a &#8220;terrifying love story&#8221; about a doll that becomes eager to flip the script and gain control of its master.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Weapons and It producer Roy Lee is on board the Magic remake as a producer, too, as are Chris Hammond and Tim Sullivan. Raimi Productions&#8217; Zainab Azizi, who also previously produced Send Help, is back, as well.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Vertigo&#8217;s Andrew Childs, Nathan Kahane, and Paul Fishkin are attached as executive producers. Lionsgate&#8217;s Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi will oversee the movie. The Magic remake&#8217;s plot, cast, and release date remain a mystery for now.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;That&#8217;s right&#8230; we are running the Send Help gang back for more,&#8221; Shannon and Swift said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/shannonandswift\/status\/2055366433287139781?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>joint statement<\/u><\/a> posted to their X\/Twitter account. &#8220;MAGIC is happening and Sam is directing. Rejoice horror fans, this is gonna be insane.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While we wait for updates on Magic, you can read about what we thought of Send Help in our <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/send-help-review-rachel-mcadams-dylan-obrien-sam-raimi\">9\/10 review<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Who wants to go to a deserted island and watch Sam Raimi put Rachel McAdams and Dylan O\u2019Brien through hell? Everybody? Great! Send Help is for you,&#8221; we said upon the film&#8217;s release earlier this year.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino\/Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He&#8217;s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Lionsgate has tapped Sam Raimi to direct a remake of the 1978 puppet horror movie, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/magic-1978\">Magic<\/a>, and some of the crew behind <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/send-help\">Send Help<\/a> is coming with him.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/05\/sam-raimi-directing-magic-remake-lionsgate-anthony-hopkins-1236906622\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Deadline<\/u><\/a> reports that the Evil Dead and Spider-Man filmmaker has signed on to reanimate a twisted cult classic for modern audiences after previously being attached only as a producer. The remake will reunite Raimi with writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, the scribes behind January&#8217;s popular horror comedy, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/send-help\">Send Help<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Sam is the dream director for this project\u2014in fact, his coming aboard represents one of the truly great matches of director and material,&#8221; Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement. &#8220;The script is fantastic, and we could not be more excited to see Sam\u2019s direction and creative vision take it to another level. We are absolutely thrilled he has chosen to direct the film.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-313219616\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/05\/15\/sam-raimi-magic-1778877324436.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image article-image article-image-full-size jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><figcaption data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-479945570 article-image-caption\">Sam Raimi. Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The original Magic premiered in 1978 and starred Anthony Hopkins as both a ventriloquist named Corky and his lively puppet, Fats. Directed by Richard Attenborough and written by William Goldman, 20th Century Fox sold the original tale as a &#8220;terrifying love story&#8221; about a doll that becomes eager to flip the script and gain control of its master.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Weapons and It producer Roy Lee is on board the Magic remake as a producer, too, as are Chris Hammond and Tim Sullivan. Raimi Productions&#8217; Zainab Azizi, who also previously produced Send Help, is back, as well.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Vertigo&#8217;s Andrew Childs, Nathan Kahane, and Paul Fishkin are attached as executive producers. Lionsgate&#8217;s Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi will oversee the movie. The Magic remake&#8217;s plot, cast, and release date remain a mystery for now.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;That&#8217;s right&#8230; we are running the Send Help gang back for more,&#8221; Shannon and Swift said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/shannonandswift\/status\/2055366433287139781?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>joint statement<\/u><\/a> posted to their X\/Twitter account. &#8220;MAGIC is happening and Sam is directing. Rejoice horror fans, this is gonna be insane.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While we wait for updates on Magic, you can read about what we thought of Send Help in our <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/send-help-review-rachel-mcadams-dylan-obrien-sam-raimi\">9\/10 review<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Who wants to go to a deserted island and watch Sam Raimi put Rachel McAdams and Dylan O\u2019Brien through hell? Everybody? Great! Send Help is for you,&#8221; we said upon the film&#8217;s release earlier this year.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino\/Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He&#8217;s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lionsgate has tapped Sam Raimi to direct a remake of the 1978 puppet horror movie, Magic, and some of the crew behind Send Help is coming with him. Deadline reports that the Evil Dead and Spider-Man filmmaker has signed on to reanimate a twisted cult classic for modern audiences after previously being attached only as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1937809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1937809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1937809"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1937809\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1937809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1937809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1937809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}