ROTTEN TOMATOES: Jonathan Rhys Meyers IS Mandrake!

Jonathan Rhys Meyers IS Mandrake!

Chuck Russell bringing classic comic to the screen.

by Jeff Giles | November 01, 2007

'Tis the age of superhero mania in Hollywood, so it's only appropriate that a group of filmmakers has decided to build a project around the character widely recognized as the first of the costumed crimefighters.

We're talking about Mandrake the Magician, the mustachioed illusionist created by Lee Falk way back in 1934. Traveling the globe with a group of able-bodied assistants, Mandrake fought supervillains such as The Cobra, The Brass Monkey, and, um, Mandrake's evil twin brother, Derek. (Nope, not making that one up.) According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jonathan Rhys Meyers will star in Mandrake, and Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King) will direct. From the article:

"This is a rare opportunity to reinvent one of the all-time classic comic book characters and create a new kind of hero for international audiences," Russell said.

Now that Mandrake's been cast, we can't wait to see who's chosen to play the world's strongest man -- Mandrake's best bud Lothar, the fez-and-leopard-skin-wearing African prince who gave up the throne to bust heads. Stay close to the phone, Michael Clarke Duncan!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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(1-3 of 3 posts) | Reply

digitalsoul68 writes:
on Nov 01 2007 05:44 AM

I remember this as a cartoon in the 80s - Defenders of the Earth. Mandrake and Lothar teamed up with Flash Gordon.

Don't know how this is going to be pulled off, though. Sounds kinda cheesy.

Personally, I'd rather see Zatanna. :-)

(Reply to this)

TrisTan2007 writes:
on Nov 01 2007 05:52 AM

Wow! Fantastic news.
I grew up reading Mandrake comics and now they are actually making it in my lifetime. :D One of the cool things I remember about Mandrake is his house, at the top of the hill (i guess) and you had to go through thousand obstacles if you were an intruder. And there was a gang of bad-guys -- 8. They'd shoot the bullet on the wall in the shape of figure "eight". LOL. And there was Lothar, the you-don't-wanna-fk-wit-him bodyguard, the strongest man in the world. He'd literally hold the flying chopper to the ground. LOL. And there was Diana, the lady love of Mandrake -- and Mandrake himself is a bada**, you don't wanna mess with magician, and you absolutely don't wanna mess with the world's greatest magician -- Mandrake, for he may **** you up so bad that every time you pull out a gun to **** him up, he will change your gun into banana, and when you don't have a gun you are so ****ed when Lothar the bodyguard approaches you to **** you up. :D

Hope they don't **** it up like the way they ****ed Phantom. aha!

(Reply to this)

0LDB0Y writes:
on Nov 01 2007 06:02 AM

manhunt 2 advertisement looks more promising.

(Reply to this)