Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese Reunite for ‘The Devil in the White City’
20th Century Studios Revives Long-Awaited Film Adaptation
20th Century Studios has reignited the long-anticipated film adaptation of Erik Larson’s 2003 true-crime bestseller, The Devil in the White City. The project is in its early development stages, with Leonardo DiCaprio in discussions to portray the infamous serial killer H.H. Holmes and Martin Scorsese considering the director’s role. The narrative intertwines the lives of Daniel Burnham, the visionary architect behind Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair, and Holmes, who exploited the event to commit his heinous crimes.
This adaptation has experienced a tumultuous journey over the years. In 2010, DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way, initiated plans for the film, eyeing DiCaprio for the role of Holmes. Prior to that, Kathryn Bigelow was attached to direct a version, and another iteration involved Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner. More recently, in 2019, Hulu embarked on developing the book into a series, with Keanu Reeves set to star and Todd Field directing the initial episodes. DiCaprio and Scorsese were slated to produce. However, by 2023, Hulu confirmed that the series would not proceed.
Overseeing the current film adaptation for 20th Century Studios are Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios President David Greenbaum, along with 20th Century’s Production President Steve Abell and Senior Vice President of Production Sarah Shepard.
DiCaprio and Scorsese’s collaboration history includes acclaimed films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Shutter Island, The Departed, The Aviator, and Gangs of New York. Their reunion for The Devil in the White City is highly anticipated by fans and critics alike.
In addition to this project, DiCaprio is set to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming film, The Battle of Baktan Cross, scheduled for release in August 2025. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Sean Penn and Regina Hall, and has been generating significant buzz during its production.
