DiCaprio, Scorsese Team Up for ‘Devil in the White City’ Film Adaptation

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are reuniting for a long-awaited film adaptation of Erik Larson‘s bestselling book, “Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America.” Sources confirm that DiCaprio is in talks to star, while Scorsese is set to direct and produce the project alongside Appian Way partners Jennifer Davisson and Rick Yorn, as well as producer Stacey Sher.

The film, which has been in development since 2010, will bring to life the chilling true story of Dr. H.H. Holmes, a serial killer who preyed on victims during the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Holmes, believed to have murdered between 27 and 200 people, operated from a so-called “murder castle” filled with trapdoors and secret passages. The book contrasts Holmes’ dark deeds with the grandeur and optimism of the World’s Fair, led by architect Daniel Burnham.

“This is a story that has resonated throughout the years and still does,” said an insider close to the project. DiCaprio first acquired the rights to the book in 2010, and the project has undergone multiple iterations, including a scrapped TV series adaptation at Hulu. The latest push for a theatrical release comes after a meeting with 20th Century Studios executives, who are eager to bring the story to the big screen.

David Greenbaum, head of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, and Steve Asbell, president of 20th Century, will oversee the project. The duo has been on a hot streak, recently securing high-profile projects like the Bruce Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White and a new film featuring Austin Butler with Edward Berger directing.

While no script has been finalized, the film is expected to align with 20th Century’s vision of producing commercially viable, globally appealing, and prestige-driven projects with A-list talent. Scorsese and DiCaprio, who have collaborated on films like “The Departed” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” are seen as the perfect team to tackle this dark historical tale.

“Devil in the White City” marks another ambitious effort by Scorsese and DiCaprio to explore complex, real-life stories. The project has faced numerous delays over the years, but with the backing of 20th Century Studios, it appears to be gaining momentum. Fans of the book and the duo’s previous collaborations are eagerly awaiting further updates.