'Mandrake The Magician' Lands At Warner Bros

The classic comic strip "Mandrake the Magician" is finally getting a big screen makeover.

There have been various attempts to adapt the comic in the past, but all have failed. Now The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Warner Bros has picked up the movie rights to the project and will adapt it alongside producers Atlas Entertainment.

"The Phantom" mastermind Lee Falk created the strip way back in 1934, which was subsequently turned into a 12-part serial for Columbia back in 1939 and made into a TV movie in 1979.

"Mandrake" has flirted with Hollywood numerous times since, with Baldwin Entertainment Group and Hyde Park Entertainment purchasing the rights to the comic strip in 2007. Their version was supposed to star Hayden Christensen and Djimon Honsou and would have been directed by Mimi Leder, but it eventually fell through.

"Mandrake the Magician" follows the titular magician character as he faces off against a variety of enemies including gangsters, aliens and mad scientists. Mandrake has the ability to hypnotize his enemies and make them see illusions. Then there's Lothar, Mandrake's African sidekick who helps him fight crime, and Derek, Mandrake's twin brother who uses his powers for evil instead of good.

Apparently Warner Bros plans to give "Mandrake" a 21st century makeover, much like they did with "Sherlock Holmes." They'll be starting the filmmaking process from scratch, and likely will hire new writers for the project soon.

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