21 Jump Street is one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2012 film landscape so far. Much of the film's success should be attributed to its directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who seamlessly made the transition from animation with Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs into live action. The co-directors are hard at work on a LEGO movie as we speak, but The Hollywood Reporter says they've got another project brewing as well.
The duo is now in talks to direct Carter Beats The Devil, another in a long line of magician movies put in development over the past few years. But this project has been in development hell for a while now, and big names like Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp were once linked to the starring role before it sputtered out and fell by the wayside. Now, with the juice from 21 Jump Street, Lord and Miller are looking to pull this magical project out of the proverbial hat once more.
The fictional story is set in the 1920s and follows a daring illusionist who stages an elaborate trick for President Warren G. Harding. But when Harding dies soon afterwards, Carter is forced to go on the lam to clear his name, all the while battling an archnemesis and encountering other real-life historical figures. Sounds like an awesome story - I really dig magic movies, especially after Nolan's The Prestige - and I can't wait to see what two energetic guys like Lord and Miller can do to adapt Glen David Gold's successful book to the big screen.
Put on your fantasy casting hats, readers - who would you like to see take on the title role of the magician? (Cruise and Depp are off the table, since they're no longer attached.)
Source: THR (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/21-jump-street-directors-carter-beats-devil-332445)