The Illusionist

The Ilusionist - This film, described as a "stunning romantic thriller" tells the tale of Eisenheim, a magician with the hots for the crown prince's fiancee (never a good idea if you want to keep your head). When the fiancee ends up dead, Eisenheim has to prove the crown prince did it before the monarcy destroys him. The Illusionist, which "explores art and technology as populist forces" (how's that for a highbrow description?), stars Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti (who is just good in everything) and Rufus Sewell.

ComingSoon.net
Secrets of The Illusionist Set Revealed
Source: Andyman
April 30, 2005
Scooper 'Andyman' is giving ComingSoon.net an exclusive look at the set of writer/director Neil Burger's The Illusionist, a turn-of-the-century drama starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell.

Burger's adaptation of the Steven Millhauser short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist" is set in 1900 Vienna. In the film, a streetwise magician (Norton) uses his dark arts to win Princess Sophie (Biel) away from Crown Prince Leopold (Sewell).

The set was built in the historic town of Tabor, Czech Republic.
http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9400

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell are joining Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti in "The Illusionist," writer- director Neil Burger's $17 million turn-of-the-century drama that begins shooting April 4 in Prague.

Burger's adaptation of the Steven Millhauser short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist" is set in 1900 Vienna. A streetwise magician

(Norton) uses his dark arts to win Princess Sophie (Biel) away from Crown Prince Leopold (Sewell). Famed magician/historian Ricky Jay is consulting on the film.

Best known for her role as a wholesome teen on television's "7th Heaven," Biel has been changing her image with such films as "The Rules of Attraction," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Blade: Trinity."

She recently received a positive response at a ShoWest screening of footage from the upcoming summer action movie "Stealth." She also stars in Cameron Crowe's next film, "Elizabethtown."

Biel landed the coveted female lead in "The Illusionist," which she actively chased, after an arduous casting process including several screen tests.

Filmmakers were seeking an actress who could bring a contemporary feel to a period yarn, and "she fit the bill," producer Michael London said.

British actor Sewell's credits include "A Knight's Tale," "Hamlet," "Cold Comfort Farm" and television's "Helen of Troy" and "Middlemarch." His upcoming features are "Tristan & Isolde" and "Legend of Zorro."

Thanks, Minx!

In brief: Ron Howard to direct Spanish conquest epic
Guardian Unlimited
Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Plus: Rufus Sewell and Jessica Biel join The Illusionist, Hogwarts relocates to eastern Europe, Ridley Scott faces plagiarism allegation and Brief Encounter music is nation's top classic

Staff and agencies
Tuesday March 29, 2005

Apollo 13 director Ron Howard is to direct a historical saga about the Spanish conquest of Mexico, The Serpent and The Eagle. The original script is being reworked by LA Confidential and Mystic River writer Brian Helgeland. But before Howard can get his hands dirty in Mexico, he must first complete two high profile projects, the adaptations of The Da Vinci Code and East of Eden.

Brit thesp Rufus Sewell and Hollywood rising star Jessica Biel are to join Edward Norton and Sideways' Paul Giamatti on the set of The Illusionist, a drama set in turn-of-the-century Vienna. The plot involves a magician (played by Norton) using his powers to seduce a princess (played by Biel) away from the crown prince (played by Sewell). The Illusionist is written and directed by relative newcomer Neil Burger. Filming is to start next week in Prague.

The next Harry Potter films could be shot in eastern Europe instead of the UK. An anonymous source told the Mail on Sunday newspaper that Warner Brother executives are planning the move in order to cut costs. All Harry Potter instalments have so far been shot in Leavesden studios in Hertfordshire and at various locations across the UK.

Ridley Scott could be facing a legal dispute over his forthcoming Crusade saga Kingdom of Heaven, expected to be a box office hit next May. Historian James Reston Jr is accusing the Blade Runner director and 20th Century Fox of violating American and international copyright law. According to legal papers, the film uses "events, characters, scenes, descriptions and character tensions" that were "strikingly similar" to passages of his book, Warriors of God: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade. The studio denies the allegations, saying that Scott has never read the book. Mr Reston Jr will decide this week whether he will go to court. Production on Kingdom of Heaven is currently being completed in England.

Meanwhile, Ridley's brother, Tony Scott, is in talks to direct the romantic thriller Déjà Vu for Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Studios. The plot involves an FBI agent travelling back in time to save a woman from a murder. Unsurprisingly, the two fall in love. Scott is currently completing production on Domino, the true story of a model-turned-bounty-hunter starring Keira Knightley.

The music from Brief Encounter, David Lean's tragic love story, has been named Britain's most popular piece of classical music, according to a Classic FM poll. The haunting melodies of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 were favoured over The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams and Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A.