‘The Devil in the White City’ Adaptation Back in Development with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio

With the announcement that his film adaptation of ‘The Devil in the White City’ is once again in development, Martin Scorsese is demonstrating his unwavering resolve. With Leonardo DiCaprio in talks to star, the project, which is based on Erik Larson’s 2003 true-crime bestseller, is gathering traction at 20th Century Studios. Set during the World’s Fair in late 19th-century Chicago, the drama centres on two opposing characters: infamous serial killer H.H. Holmes and architect Daniel Burnham. Which role DiCaprio might play is still unknown.
Over 15 years have been spent on the arduous and convoluted path to making ‘The Devil in the White City’ a reality. Development started in 2010 when DiCaprio, who may have found the novel while on vacation, purchased the rights through his production firm, Appian Way. Scorsese and DiCaprio worked together once more when he joined the project as director five years later. However, the movie had problems, so in 2019, the crew decided to change course and create the plot as a series for Hulu.
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With Keanu Reeves joining DiCaprio and production set to start in early 2023, the series appeared to be destined for success. However, when Reeves and director Todd Field left in late 2022, the project encountered difficulties. The series was completely shelved by early 2023. With signs of a resurrection, hopes for the adaptation were rekindled last summer, and it now looks like those aspirations might finally come true. Even if the project appears to be making progress, it’s advisable to approach it cautiously and optimistically considering its turbulent past.
–Farheen Ali