Hugh Jackman pulls out of Houdini Musical

Film and musical theatre star Hugh Jackman has been attached to the new musical Houdini for over five years but has now announced that he has withdrawn from the production due to its scheduling demands.

In a statement to Variety he siad "I have greatly enjoyed the collaborative process on Houdini. Ultimately, though, I wasn't able to commit to the time this role will require. I have tremendous respect and admiration for the creative team and I wish everyone the best. I know they're well on their way to making something extraordinary."

The show's producer Scott Sanders said "Hugh has been terrific to have on this part of our journey. We will continue to move forward with our remarkable creative team as they craft this ambitious new musical."