John Malkovich has signed on to play the title role in Bristol Bay and Playtone's "The Great Buck Howard" reports the trades.

Kevin Kline had been in negotiations to star as the magician. Sean McGinly is directing the comedy from his own script, which follows a luckless magician (Malkovich) and his assistant as they struggle to reinvigorate his career.

Colin Hanks already has been cast as the assistant, and Tom Hanks will play the assistant's disapproving father.