With the Now You See Me films and Marvel’s upcoming Doctor Strange movie recently bringing magic back into the spotlight, Warner Brothers has decided that it is time to conjure up a magical franchise of their own. Mandrake the Magician was created by Lee Falk (creator of The Phantom) back in the 1930s, originating in newspaper comic strips and eventually getting his own 12-part serial before slowly fading away. With the exception of a sporadic presence in comics and a handful of TV movies, he has mostly been forgotten, but the success of The Prestige and The Illusionist in the mid-2000s brought renewed interest in the character. Although a new movie didn’t happen at the time, now it finally seems to be happening and Sacha Baron Cohen is reportedly attached to star. Hit the jump for more details.

According to The Tracking Board, Sacha Baron Cohen has signed on to star in Mandrake the Magician for Warner Bros. Etan Cohen (Get Hard) will direct from a script by David Peoples and Janet Peoples (Twelve Monkeys) as well as Tom Wheeler (Puss in Boots, The Cape). Baron Cohen will also produce along with Charles Roven and Andy Horowtiz.

Mandrake has been described as “America’s first superhero”, having fought villains alongside his companion Lothar using his powers as an illusionist, hypnotist and escape artist. He also has the ability to turn invisible, shapeshift, levitate, and teleport. Previous incarnations of the project had Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Hayden Christensen in the lead role with Mimi Leder and Chuck Russell attached to direct. With Sacha Baron Cohen and Etan Cohen involved, however, it does lead one to assume this may be a comedic take on the character. Are you interested in a Mandrake the Magician movie?