Scorsese and DiCaprio Reunite for “The Devil in the White City” Adaptation

Hollywood veterans Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are teaming again to bring “The Devil in the White City” to the big screen, adapting Erik Larson’s 2003 true-crime nonfiction book. The project, which has been in development limbo for over two decades, is now progressing under the auspices of 20th Century Studios.

Currently, in the early stages of development without a script, the film has long been a passion project for Scorsese and DiCaprio. Their previous collaborations, including “Gangs of New York,” “The Aviator,” “The Departed,” “Shutter Island,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” have been critically acclaimed. They will produce the film alongside Stacey Sher, Rick Yorn, and Jennifer Davisson.

“The Devil in the White City” intricately weaves the stories of two contrasting men connected by the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. The narrative delves into the lives of Daniel H. Burnham, an ambitious architect determined to leave his mark on the world, and Henry H. Holmes, a charming yet malevolent doctor who built a pharmaceutical ‘Murder Castle’—a structure designed to attract, torment, and destroy young women.

DiCaprio, who acquired the film rights to Larson’s book in 2010, initially intended to develop it as a feature at Paramount with Scorsese directing. He was considering playing Holmes himself. Before this arrangement, Kathryn Bigelow participated in a project related to Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner.

The adaptation briefly shifted to television when Hulu greenlit the series in 2019. Originally associated with Keanu Reeves and filmmaker Todd Field, both exited the project by late 2022. In March 2023, Hulu ultimately cancelled the series, clearing the path for a return to film with Scorsese and DiCaprio at the helm.