The highly anticipated film adaptation of Erik Larson’s bestselling book The Devil in the White City has taken a major step forward. According to Deadline exclusive, 20th Century Studios has officially joined the project, with Leonardo DiCaprio in discussions to star and Martin Scorsese in talks to direct. Both DiCaprio and Scorsese are set to produce alongside Stacey Sher, Rick Yorn, and DiCaprio’s Appian Way partner, Jennifer Davisson.
While there’s currently no script for the adaptation, the momentum is building for Larson’s 2004 nonfiction classic, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. The book juxtaposes the grandeur of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition with the chilling crimes of Dr. H.H. Holmes, a calculated serial killer who lured victims to his “Murder Castle” under the guise of the fair’s marvels.
DiCaprio first acquired the rights to the book in 2010 and has been developing the project ever since. Although a Hulu series adaptation was previously explored, it never materialized. Insiders note that a recent meeting with 20th Century executives reignited the vision to bring the story to the big screen, where it was always meant to be told. “This is a story that has resonated throughout the years and still does,” sources close to the project revealed to Deadline.
20th Century Studios, under the leadership of Disney Live Action head David Greenbaum and 20th Century president Steve Asbell, continues its streak of high-profile acquisitions. Following their success with Deliver Me From Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White, and The Barrier, featuring Austin Butler, this latest project aligns with their mission to deliver films that blend commercial appeal, global theatrical potential, and prestige.
Asbell, Greenbaum, and SVP Production Sarah Shepard will oversee the development of The Devil in the White City for the studio. LBI Entertainment represents DiCaprio, Scorsese, and Appian Way, with WME also repping Scorsese.
With DiCaprio and Scorsese’s proven track record of iconic collaborations and the timeless allure of Larson’s haunting narrative, the film promises to captivate audiences worldwide.
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