Deadliest Escapes
2011
Produced by Ivan Gulas
The most spectacular series of six life-threatening escapes featuring David Merlini...LIVE and unedited.
Dynamic, Thrilling, Dangerous
Escape art has never been taken to this ultimate level. David Merlini is following in the renowned footsteps of the great Harry Houdini in redefining the art of escapology. Merlini proves nothing is impossible! Whether it's enduring 33 hours frozen in a block of ice, restricted within a steel coffin at the bottom of a river, launched with a missile, confined in a straitjacket under a speeding helicoper, implanted in 3.5 tons of concrete or trapped in a car on fire and dropped 300 feet.
Merlini's escapes are NOT an illusion, they are reality. His extraordinary imagination, 'superhuman' capabilities and dramatic flair have proven to be must-see live and live television events throughout the world. Redefining 'must-see TV', his escape from encasement in 3.5 tons of concrete block lowered into the ice-cold Danube river captured 49% of TV viewers, and became the most watched television program in Hungary.
Mind over Matter
"Fear is the primal emotion that separates man from animal." Merlini broke the world record by holding his breath for 20 minutes, 39 seconds underwater on October 13th, 2008, and then again on April 26, 2009, when he reached new heights holding his breath for 21 minutes, 29 seconds. Breaking world records is what Merlini, who was honored with the "Best Escape Artist Award" at the World Magic Awards in Los Angeles, lives for.
The Series
Six spectacular one-hour TV specials, to be broadcast live from Las Vegas. Each show, with all the splendor and spontaneity Las Vegas is known for, will feature Merlini attempting a death defying 'impossible' escape. His stunts will also be made magical and fascinating by having other live acts performed simultaneously as we witness his struggling progress. (These live events could include singers, dancers, bands, and other complimenting performances.)
Then the countdown! Can he really break free? Will Merlini redefine the limits of humanity? The end of the episode would include an unbelievable finale, where the audience will be waiting in anticipation to see the miracle unravel before their eyes. Then when we reveal that he has escaped, there is a celebration filled with lights, fireworks, fire, and a satisfied David Merlini.
About Merlini
David Merlini is a Hungarian escape artist. He was born in Budapest in October, 1978. This is his real name, after his Italian father. He is known for his unique performances written, designed, directed, and performed by himself. He is believed to be the heir of Harry Houdini, thanks to a weird chronological fact: Merlini was born fifty-two years after the death of Harry Houdini, who died aged fifty-two.
Fast Facts:
- Has performed several high-tech stunts such as being launched along with a SCUD missile, embedded in a block of solid concrete and thrown in a river, or frozen with liquid nitrogen.
- Awarded "Best Escape Artist" at the World Magic Awards 2007 in Los Angeles.
- Holder of several World Records for holding his breath while underwater.
- David Merlini's live TV shows broke all current ratings records in 2004 and 2005.
Year-by-Year:
1995. After moving back from Italy, where he grew up, Merlini performed his first great escape at only 16, at the Island'95 Festival. David is strapped into a straitjacket, then hung upside-down under a rope at 30 ft of height. The rope is set alight. David is free in less than 100 seconds, descending to the huge stage with a second rescue cord in the crossfire of robotic lights, and the cameras of the Hungarian National TV.
1996. David was welded in a steel perforated box, after being chained and padlocked. The box was lowered into the Danube, and David had freed himself within three minutes.
1997. David was handcuffed by five sets of regular police handcuffs, locked with 60 lbs. of chains, then padlocked in a metal cage and lowered into a transparent tank of water, locked by a glass top. David is free again.
1998. David is handcuffed to the steering wheel of a Mercedes 500, the doors are welded shut, the car is set alight and lifted up to 100 ft. The car fell at a specific part of the stunt, crashing and exploding on the ground. Later that year, David is strapped into a straitjacket, then lifted upside down under a speeding helicopter at 1000 ft. The rope is connected to timed explosives. David escapes both unharmed.
2000. Strapped in a special underwater straitjacket, David's ankles are secured by handcuffs, padlocks and massive lead weights. He jumps into a huge transparent tank of water along with six tiger sharks. David is free within 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
2001. Wearing only a straitjacket, David is placed into a tank of water and locked in a refrigerator cell at -38.3°F. During the 33 hours of the stunt David freezes completely in ice. In front of a live crowd, he is unfrozen with blowtorches by his crew.
2002. David jumped handcuffed and bound by a straitjacket into the North Sea (the world's coldest), reaching 160 ft underwater.
2003. David is handcuffed upside down to a metal cross, then submerged in a special glass tank.
2004. Encased up to his neck in 3.5 tons of concrete, David was lowered into the ice-cold Danube river.
2005. Launched along with the largest non-governmental, non-military rocket ever built in history. He escapes before the explosion at 10,000 ft, parachuting to safety.
2006. Merlini's first autobiographical book is released in stores, entitled Szabadits Ki! (Free Me!).
2007. Merlini breaks the World Record for the longest underwater escape ever, emerging free after escaping several sets of handcuffs and chains. He spends a dizzying time of 10 minutes and 17 seconds submerged. No pure oxygen was inhaled before the performance.
David Merlini is awarded Best Escape Artist at the World Magic Awards 2007 in Los Angeles, after being frozen instantly with more than 300 gallons of liquid nitrogen.
2008. Breaks the World Record for being submerged underwater without breathing in Cannes, in front of official judges of Guinness World Records and a live audience.
2009. Breaks the World Record for holding his breath underwater at the starting line of the Sakhir Circuit at the 2009 Formula One Bahrain GP. The new record now stands at 21 minutes, 29 seconds.
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