Screenwriter Noah Oppenheim has been hired by Summit Entertainment to write The Secret Life of Houdini. Summit first acquired the biography by William Kalush and Larry Sloman in 2009.

The Secret Life of Houdini follows the exploits of famed magician Harry Houdini, not only as an illusionist, but also as a spy for Great Britain. The studio wants to create a character that is part Sherlock Holmes and part Indiana Jones, following his rise as both a magician and covert agent.

Jeff Nathanson had previously been attached as writer-director, but is no longer on the project. A director isn't attached to The Secret Life of Houdini yet and it isn't clear when production might start.

We reported last week that another Harry Houdini project entitled Voices From the Dead is moving forward at DreamWorks. J. Michael Straczynski is writing the script, which features Harry Houdini teaming up with Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle to solve murder mysteries in 1920s New York City.