Andrew Garfield and Jude Law have undergone dramatic transformations to embody the iconic illusionist duo Siegfried and Roy for their upcoming AppleTV series.
The actors were nearly unrecognizable while filming in Los Angeles, with Law, 53, sporting a platinum blonde mullet, oversized aviators and a leather jacket to portray Siegfried Fischbacher. Garfield, 42, wore a bolder ensemble as Roy Horn, featuring a soul patch, longer hair, black flat cap, light sunglasses and a bright blue blazer.
At a Glance
- Andrew Garfield and Jude Law spotted filming as Siegfried & Roy in Las Vegas
- The AppleTV series is based on the “Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy” podcast
- The show will chronicle the magicians’ rise to fame and tragic end
- Why it matters: This marks the first major screen adaptation of the legendary duo’s incredible story
The forthcoming series, based on the podcast Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy, will chronicle “the wild ride relationship tale of two of the greatest showman-magicians in history who, along with their white tigers, are tasked with turning Sin City into a family-friendly destination,” according to the official logline reported by Variety.
“The duo push the concept of illusion versus reality to the extreme, personally and professionally, until tragedy reframes and opens a mystery surrounding their last fateful Las Vegas show,” the logline continued.
From Cruise Ship to Vegas Legends
The famed illusionists first met while working on a cruise ship in 1957. Horn, who was Fischbacher’s assistant, suggested incorporating a cheetah into the act. They would later tour, performing in small clubs before getting their big break in a Paris casino in 1967. A producer in the audience invited them to Las Vegas to try out their material, the Las Vegas Sun reported.
As their success continued, the illusionists opened their famed Las Vegas show, “Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage” in February 1990, which ran until October 2003. Their run ended when Horn was attacked by a 600-lb. tiger named Montecore while on stage with Fischbacher. The mauling took place on Horn’s 59th birthday.
The pair took a final bow together in 2009. Years later, in 2020, Horn died of complications from COVID-19. Eight months later, in January 2021, Fischbacher died of pancreatic cancer.
Behind the Scenes
The transformation required extensive prosthetics and styling to capture the distinctive looks of both performers. The production has been filming in both Los Angeles and Las Vegas to authentically recreate the magicians’ journey from small clubs to becoming the biggest act in Vegas history.
The series will explore not just their professional partnership but also the deep bond between the two men who revolutionized live entertainment in Las Vegas. Their elaborate shows featuring white tigers and other exotic animals became synonymous with the city’s transformation into a family-friendly destination.
A Story Years in the Making
AppleTV has shared very few details about the mini-series, with no announcement of a premiere date. The project represents a significant investment for the streaming platform, which has been expanding its slate of prestige limited series based on true stories.
The casting of Garfield and Law, both Academy Award-nominated actors, signals the project’s ambition to tell this larger-than-life story with the gravity and spectacle it deserves. Their physical transformations alone have generated significant buzz among entertainment industry observers.
Key Takeaways
- Andrew Garfield and Jude Law are playing Roy Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher respectively
- The AppleTV series is based on the Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy podcast
- Production has filmed in both Los Angeles and Las Vegas
- The show will cover their rise from cruise ship performers to Vegas headliners
- Their Mirage show ran from 1990 until Horn’s tiger attack in 2003
- Both magicians have since passed away – Horn in 2020, Fischbacher in 2021
