In a further sign that there really are no original ideas left, Warner Bros and Atlas Entertainment are turning to ’30s and ’40s pulp hero MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN with a view to bringing him back to screens to get some of that SHERLOCK HOLMES money whilst we wait for the third in that franchise.

Mandrake is perhaps best known as one of DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH along with Flash Gordon, The Phantom and some bloke called Lothar. They had a cartoon series in the ’80s which I remember quite liking. Even in the cartoon Mandrake was a fairly goofy character, he was originally created by Lee Falk for the funny books in 1934 and was an illusionist with hypnotic powers who along with his servant Lothar went around waving his wand and battling evil whilst the baddies were no doubt dazzled by his pencil moustache and top hat. 

The rights to this character have bounced around since the 1960s with various writers and studios trying to bring him back in some way and all failing. DARK KNIGHT producer Charles Roven is now producing the latest version with David and Janet Peoples working on a screenplay. THE PHANTOM, THE SHADOW and DICK TRACY were all period flops based on old serials, will this one fare better?

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