Kevin Kline has had to back out of his appearance in the new Tom and Colin Hanks film “The Great Buck Howard,” a SF drama about a father’s disappointment over his son’s choice of magician mentor.

Kline was forced to back out of the project due to scheduling conflicts with other works in progress on his roster.

Actor John Malkovich will be stepping into the role that Kline has vacated. Malkovich will play a world famous magician who is showing signs of his age and a faltering career. In order to shore up his traveling magical-mystery troop the famed magician agrees to take on a young wannabe (Colin Hanks) to assist him and learn the tricks of the trade. The elder Hanks is not pleased with his son’s decision and will not support his endeavor.

Tom Hank’s Playtone Productions will provide the financing for this project along with producing credits for Gary Goetzman. Sean McGinly has written the screenplay and will direct.

Malkovich, a busy man this past year, will be appearing in eight other films to be released over the next three years including, “Eragon,” “Beowulf” and “The Mutant Chronicles.”