On September 17, 2013, it was announced that actor Evan Jones had been added to the cast as Houdini's assistant Jim Collins. Patrizia von Brandenstein and Karl Walter Lindenlaub were also announced as production designer and cinematographer, respectively. The screenplay was to be penned by veteran author and filmmaker Nicholas Meyer, based on the 1976 book Houdini: A Mind in Chains: A Psychoanalytic Portrait by his father, Bernard C. The series was officially green-lit on August 19, 2013, with Kristen Connolly announced as Brody's co-star and Uli Edel as director. History first announced the development of a Houdini biopic miniseries with Adrien Brody attached to star on April 10, 2013.

Linda Marlowe as Lady Doyle, Arthur Conan Doyle's clairvoyant wife.

David Calder as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes and believer in spiritualism.

Shaun Williamson as Sidney Reilly, MI5 agent and Harry's handler.

Tim Pigott-Smith as William Melville - Head of MI5.

Louis Mertens as Erich Weiss (young Harry).

Tom Benedict Knight as Dash Houdini, Harry's younger brother.

Eszter Ónodi as Cecilia Weiss, Harry's mother.

Evan Jones as Jim Collins, Harry's assistant.

Kristen Connolly as Bess Houdini, Harry's wife.

Adrien Brody as Harry Houdini, world-famous magician.

The drama will chronicle the life of a man who can defy death through his stunts, his visions and his mastery of illusion. The miniseries follows the man behind the magic as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists and encounters the greatest names of the era. The series stars Adrien Brody as Harry Houdini and features the life of the legendary illusionist and escape artist from poverty to worldwide fame. Houdini is a two-part, four-hour History channel miniseries written by Nicholas Meyer and directed by Uli Edel.

Magic of houdini