Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's Elusive 'The Devil in the White City' Lands at 20th Century Studios

Breathing new life into the project that’s been in development for almost two decades.

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio‘s long-time project The Devil in the White City has landed at 20th Century Studios, breathing life into the film that has been in development for almost 20 years.

Variety reports that Scorsese and DiCaprio will produce alongside Stacey Sher, Rick Yorn and Jennifer Davisson, while 20th Century and Disney Live Action president David Greenbaum, 20th Century president Steve Asbell and SVP of Production Sarah Shepard will be overseeing the film for the studio. DiCaprio is reportedly currently in talks to star once again.

The Devil in the White City is based on Erik Larson’s 2003 historical non-fiction book of the same name and follows the story of H. H. Holmes, the man who is widely considered as the first ever serial killer in the United States after he lured his victims into his “Murder Castle” at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.

Prior to DiCaprio and his Appian Way Productions’ acquisition of the film rights, it was Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner who first began development on the project. The option lapsed in 2004 and was reacquired by Paramount in 2007, who began work with producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher. DiCaprio then acquired the rights in 2010 with plans to star as the serial killer, and Scorsese boarded the project as its director in 2015.

In 2022, it was announced that the project was being developed over at Hulu with Keanu Reeves starring in the lead role. He departed the series in the same year, with director Todd Field following just a few days later. Hulu then announced its cancellation in March 2023.

Stay tuned for more details.