Adrien Brody Is Magic Man, Harry Houdini, In New Series

David Copperfield baffles audiences with his illusions and David Blaine impresses with endurance acts and close-up magical mysteries but it was Harry Houdini that first brought misapprehension and escape into the magic mainstream. And it is Adrien Brody that will bring this exceptional stunt performer and his incredible life to TV screens in Houdini, a show charting his escapades from poverty as Eastern European Ehrich Weiss to worldwide fame as The Great Harry Houdini.

Brody is known for his method-acting and goes deep into his roles: learning ventriloquism for his performance in The Dummy and how to play the piano in The Pianist. But it would seem that he draws the line at high-altitude bridge jumping such as Houdini attempted when he jumped from a bridge into a hole chopped in ice over a frozen river.

Brody told The New York Daily News: "[it] tells you a lot about Houdini. He did some dangerously crazy stuff."

MORE: Harry Houdini Role Is Childhood Dream Come True For Adrien Brody

In the series, Houdini takes Brody through fame, espionage, spiritualism, stunts, visions and mastery of illusion with Kristen Connolly of House of Cards notoriety joining the cast as Bess Houdini, the love of Harry’s life and his magical partner in crime.