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The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (aka Burt Dickenson) is an upcoming comedy film directed by Don Scardino and written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, based on a story by Chad Kultgen. The film follows Las Vegas magician Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) as he attempts to reunite with his former partner Anton Lovecraft (Steve Buscemi) to take on dangerous street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey).

The film began development as early as 2006, when New Line Cinema bought the Kultgen script "Burt Dickenson: The Most Powerful Magician on Planet Earth". The development process gained momentum when Charles McDougall was hired as director, but he eventually left the project and was replaced with Scardino. Daley and Goldstein rewrote the script which saw further rewrites from Jason Reitman in June 2011.

Filming was scheduled to finally begin in October 2011, in Los Angeles, California but was pushed back to January 2012. Filming began on January 10, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada with filming later moving to Los Angeles.

Premise

Burt Wonderstone (Carell) and Anton Lovecraft (Buscemi) are a successful magic act in Las Vegas. Their partnership comes to an end when Anton is injured by Burt during their hotbox trick, and Anton moves to the Far East. When Burt is overshadowed by popular street magician Steve Gray (Carrey), he must convince Anton to return to the act to regain his standing by all means necessary.

Cast

• Steve Carell as Burt Wonderstone

A formerly successful magician. Carell joined the film in September 2010. The character's design is based partly on famous magicians Siegfried & Roy.

• Jim Carrey as Steve Gray

A street-magician with a dangerous act. Carrey entered negotiations for a role in the film in October 2011. The character was described by Scardino as "if David Blaine and Criss Angel had a child", but that Carrey is "such an idiosyncratic performer, he's not quite either of those guys."

• Steve Buscemi as Anton Lovecraft

Wonderstone's former partner. Buscemi entered negotiations for a role on October 31, 2011.

• James Gandolfini as Doug Munny

Billionaire owner of the Aztec Casino where Burt and Anton perform. Gandolfini was reported to be in talks for the role on October 29, 2011. In early December Gandolfini traveled to Las Vegas to research his role, speaking with magicians Criss Angel and Nathan Burton, and The Mirage casino president Felix Rapaport and executive Kenny Epstein, and philanthropist Larry Ruvo. Speaking on their meeting, Rappaport stated that Gandolfini wanted to prepare for the role by "getting insights in Las Vegas, specifically in the entertainment world and the world of magic."

• Olivia Wilde as Burt's former assistant who now works for Gray.

On October 27, 2011, it was reported that Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Judy Greer, Sarah Silverman and Jessica Biel were in contention for the female lead. This list was reduced to Silverman, Wilde, and Greer, with all making strong impressions on the filmmakers but with Wilde as the front-runner. It was later reported that the filmmakers were waiting for Biel to audition before making their final decision. Ultimately it was Wilde who secured the role.

• Brad Garrett as Burt's accountant.

Garrett was reported to be in negotiations for a role on December 12, 2011.

• Jay Mohr as Rick the Implausible

A magician. Mohr joined the cast on December 20, 2011.

• Gillian Jacobs

A magic fan who has a one-night stand with Wonderstone.

• David Copperfield as himself.
• Mason Cook as young Burt Wonderstone.

Cook was required to learn several magic tricks under a magic supervisor to portray Wonderstone as he begins to discover magic.

• Michael Herbig

A magician with a German background and a thing for cats.

• Alan Arkin in an unspecified role.

Production

Development

The film started development in 2006 when New Line Cinema bought Chad Kultgen's script, titled "Burt Dickenson: The Most Powerful Magician on Planet Earth." The script was later rewritten by screenwriting team John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. In July 2011, the story was described as following Burt Wonderstone, a formerly successful magician who was overshadowed by a younger, edgier magician. However, by the time Carrey had joined the project in October 2011, the younger magician character had become simply a rival magician, and Burt was now part a formerly successful magic duo.

In February 2011, the film found a director in Charles McDougall, but by April 2011, McDougall had left the project with no reason being cited for the departure. In June 2011, 30 Rock director Don Scardino was confirmed to take the director chair. On June 16, 2011, Jason Reitman was brought aboard the project to perform additional rewrites to the Daley/Goldstein script. Reitman was reportedly paid for several weeks of work, but the extent of his involvement or the script changes was not detailed.

Filming

Filming had been scheduled to begin in October 2011, in Los Angeles, California, but was pushed back to January 2012, with casting of the remaining lead roles occurring throughout October. Principal photography began on January 10, 2012, starting with four days of shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, with over 400 extras hired to play background pedestrians, tourists and casino workers. Among the locations used during the Las Vegas shooting are interiors and exteriors at the Bally's Las Vegas hotel and casino, and exteriors of the Las Vegas Strip, downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street, and Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel. Scardino, who had not filmed in Las Vegas since helming an episode of Tracey Takes On... approximately fifteen years earlier, described shooting on location in the city as "an absolute must". Scardino added "We just felt that, to give the movie authenticity, it had to be on the Strip". The first day of shooting saw Carell and Buscemi suspended inside a perspex box, with Wilde and Gandolfini also on set. Copperfield developed a live stage illusion specifically to be used in the film. Carell was filmed on the Strip because Scardino believed his character is "a creature of the Strip," while Carrey was filmed "in and around Fremont Street," where his character felt more at home. Scardino explained the decision to film the characters in these environments, saying the "two different worlds" of Vegas "helps define our talent," with the "ever-changing Strip" providing contrast with "the frozen-in-time aspect of Fremont Street." Filming moved to Los Angeles and Southern California by January 16, 2012. Filming had concluded by March 25, 2012.

References

1. ^ Fleming, Mike (October 31, 2011). "Steve Buscemi: From Jersey Boardwalk To Vegas For 'Burt Wonderstone'?". Deadline.com. PMC. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
2. ^ Sneider, Jeff (October 29, 2011). "Gandolfini in talks for 'Wonderstone'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
3. ^ Sneider, Jeff (October 31, 2011). "Steve Buscemi in talks for 'Burt Wonderstone'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
4. ^ McNary, Dave (June 2, 2011). "Scardino to direct Steve Carell in 'Burt'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
5. McNary, Dave (September 24, 2010). "Steve Carell eyes 'Wonderstone'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
6. ^ Cling, Carol (January 16, 2012). "'American Idol' visiting 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Bob Brown. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
7. ^ Fleming, Mike (October 27, 2011). "New Line Looking To Conjure 'Burt Wonderstone' Female Lead". Deadline.com. PMC. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
8. ^ Cling, Carol (January 9, 2012). "Extras wanted for 'Burt Wonderstone' comedy". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Bob Brown. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
9. Fleming, Mike (October 11, 2011). "Jim Carrey Goes Mano A Mano Opposite Steve Carell In 'Burt Wonderstone'". Deadline.com. PMC. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
10. Clarke, Norm (December 4, 2011). "Gandolfini checks out comedy role". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Bob Brown. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
11. ^ Kit, Borys (December 12, 2011). "Brad Garrett In Talks to Join Steve Carell in 'Burt Wonderstone' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
12. Borys, Kit (October 31, 2011). "Olivia Wilde, Steve Buscemi in Talks for Steve Carell's 'Burt Wonderstone' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
13. ^ L. Weinstein, Joshua (December 20, 2011). "Jay Mohr Joins Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey and Steve Carell in 'Burt Wonderstone' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. The Wrap News Inc. Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dearurl= ignored (help)
14. Borys, Kit (February 15, 2012). "'Community' Star Gillian Jacobs Joins Steve Carell in 'Burt Wonderstone' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
15. ^ Price, Matthew (March 8, 2012). "Oklahoma's Mason Cook joins cast of movies "Lone Ranger" and "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone"". The Oklahoman. OPUBCO Communications Group. Retrieved March 9, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
16. Pauli, Harald (January 23, 2012). "Michael Bully Herbig dreht in Hollywood". Focus (in German). Hubert Burda Media. Retrieved March 16, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dearurl= ignored (help)
17. ^ "Steve Carell, Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi on the Burt Wonderstone Set". ComingSoon.net. CraveOnline. January 11, 2012. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
18. ^ Fleming, Mike (June 2, 2011). "New Line Sets Don Scardino To Direct Steve Carell In 'Burt Wonderstone". Deadline.com. PMC. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
19. Williams, Owen (February 25, 2011). "Burt Wonderstone Has A Director". Empire. Bauer. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
20. Vieira, Anthony (April 6, 2011). "Stallone's 'Headshot' & Carell's 'Burt Wonderstone' Lose Directors". The Film Stage. Banquet Media. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
21. Kit, Borys (June 16, 2011). "Steve Carell's Surprise Script Doctor: Jason Reitman (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
22. ^ Larkin, Mike (January 11, 2012). "Crazy stupid stunt! Steve Carell apes magician David Blaine... as he hangs from the air in a perspex cage... for new film". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
23. McNary, Dave (January 25, 2012). "Commercials, TV offset L.A. shooting dip". Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
24. "Jim Carrey & 'Idol' Daughter Jane Enjoy Idle Time On Wonderstone Set". RadarOnline. American Media, Inc. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
25. Fleming, Mike (March 13, 2012). "Olivia Wilde And Jason Sudeikis Star In Agoraphobe Meets Anxiety-Prone Hottie In 'Relanxious'". Deadline.com. PMC. Retrieved March 13, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

• Template:Amg movie
• Burt Wonderstone at IMDb

• Films about magic and magicians