Another new casting rumor–Johnny Depp to play Jazz Age magician in CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL?

Here’s a tantalizing new casting rumor: Steven Zeitchik of the Los Angeles Times Movies blog reports that Warner Bros. has just put Carter Beats the Devil, an adaptation of Glen David Gold’s 2002 novel, on the front burner, and hopes to entice Johnny Depp to play the leading role of Jazz Age magician Charles Carter. “Gold’s bestseller is a 1920s historical mystery in which the titular magician, Charles Carter, stages a sawed-in-half trick on President Warren G. Harding, only to be forced on the lam after Harding mysteriously dies shortly after,” writes Zeitchik. Although an earlier attempt by Tom Cruise to develop the property for himself died on the vine, inside sources at Warner Bros. have told Zeitchik that “a new version of the script has been completed and turned in to the studio,” and “Warner Bros. has put Johnny Depp atop the list of actors it wants to play Carter” because of JD’s strong track record of playing “eccentric showmen.”

A search is currently underway for a director for Carter Beats the Devil; Zeitchik reports that agents at “three of the largest Hollywood agencies” confirmed to him that Warner Bros. “has put the word out [. . . ]that it’s looking to fill the position.” Intriguing!

The Zone thanks FANtasticJD for sharing the LA Times article; you can read more on the Zone’s Porch General Discussion forum. Mr. Zeitchik’s article is available HERE.

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