Douglas Family Goes Up in Smoke

April 27 -- It's a family affair on the Douglas clan's next picture.

Smoke and Mirrors, starring Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, is a period piece focusing on the life of French master magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805-1871). The picture is being co-produced by Michael's older brother, Joel Douglas, and Kevin Brodie — Joel's future brother-in-law, according to Variety columnist Army Archerd.

Joel is engaged to wed Brodie's sister Joann Savitt. And Brodie's father, Steve, previously teamed with Michael's papa, Kirk Douglas, on Out of the Past, Archerd notes. In addition, Zeta-Jones' brother, David Jones, is another co-producer on Smoke and Mirrors.

The Hollywood couple also hopes Kirk Douglas will play a sultan in the 1850s-set story of Robert-Houdin, who is considered to be the first magician to use electricity and apply serious illusion techniques to modern magic.

Zeta-Jones just completed America's Sweethearts with John Cusack and Julia Roberts, while her hubby appears as a toupee-wearing hit man in One Night at McCool's, in theaters today.

Reuters contributed to this story.