Sam Raimi Is Bringing Back Anthony Hopkins Creepiest Classic: Magic Gets a Reboot

Let’s talk Sam Raimi for a second. If you grew up watching the Evil Dead movies, the guy’s insane creativity and twisted style probably left you asking two questions: how did Hollywood ever trust him with Spider-Man, and why did it take so long for him to get back to horror? The man basically invented 'DIY nightmare fuel' and then pivoted into superhero juggernauts. Classic Raimi move—somehow both surprising and perfectly logical if you know his track record.

Earlier this year, Raimi finally crawled back into the haunted house he helped build, breaking a whopping 17-year horror dry spell (he hasn’t directed a horror movie since Drag Me to Hell in 2009—yes, it’s really been that long). His comeback flick, Send Help, just dropped, and apparently, he’s not dusting off the fake blood for a quick nostalgia trip. There’s another, even weirder beast coming.

Raimi’s Next: Revisiting 'Magic'

Next on deck, Sam will be directing a new adaptation of William Goldman’s 1976 novel Magic. If that title rings a bell, you might remember the 1978 film with Anthony Hopkins—the one where he’s getting creepily attached to a ventriloquist dummy. Yes, we’re back in the territory of 'guy and his murder puppet,' and I can’t think of a better person to steer this ship than Raimi, who always manages to push his characters—and his effects teams—to the edge.

Originally, Raimi was just supposed to produce. Apparently, he couldn’t resist jumping behind the camera once he sunk his teeth into the material. Who’s writing this new take? Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, the same duo who scripted Send Help. So expect that streak of uncomfortable, well-paced terror to keep going.

The Plot: Fame, Dummies, and (Probably) Nightmares

Here’s the gist:

• Our protagonist is a washed-up comedian whose act features a ventriloquist dummy called Fats.
• The act actually starts to work—he gets famous, and fast.
• Fame messes with his mind. Hard.
• And then... the puppet basically takes over, leading to, let’s say, “very bad choices” and serious crime. Yep. The odd couple dynamic is about to get unhinged.

Lionsgate (the studio behind the project) is thrilled—and yes, they’re still on the phone with the quote machine. Adam Fogelson, who runs their movie group, had this to say:

'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.'

What Kind of Horror Are We Getting?

If you were expecting another blood-and-guts parade like Evil Dead, you might want to temper expectations… at least slightly. Magic is more psychological than splattery, but don’t think Raimi’s lost his touch—he still packed plenty of gruesome moments into Send Help, even though it was basically just two people stranded on an island. And, let’s be honest, the guy doesn’t usually pass up a chance to make the audience squirm.

Basically, Magic will lean into thriller territory a la A Simple Plan or The Gift (both directed by Raimi, both proof he’s just as good at making you sweat without spraying the walls red), but I’d still bet on a few classic Raimi gut-punches landing in the final cut.

No word yet on when Magic will actually hit theaters—release date TBD. But if you’re a fan of horror with brains, puppets, and at least one deranged auteur running wild, keep your eyes peeled.