Nathanson will unlock The Secret Life of Houdini

IGN.com is reporting that screenwriter Jeff Nathanson has signed on to write and direct The Secret Life of Houdini for Summit Entertainment.

Summit hopes to launch a fictional action franchise in the vein of Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes featuring Houdini’s supposed adventures as a spy for the British government.

Nathanson shared credit on the latest Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and has worked with Steven Spielberg on numerous projects. He also has the dubious distinction of writing Speed 2: Cruise Control.