‘Devil In The White City’ Movie Revived At 20th Century With Leonardo DiCaprio And Martin Scorsese Eyeing Reunion

EXCLUSIVE: The long-awaited film adaptation of Erik Larson’s bestselling book The Devil in the White City just got a shot of adrenaline, as sources tell Deadline that 20th Century has come on to the project with Leonardo DiCaprio in talks to star and Martin Scorsese in talks to direct. DiCaprio and Scorsese would also produce along with Stacey Sher, Rick Yorn and DiCaprio’s Appian Way partner Jennifer Davisson.

Sources add that there is currently no script for the pic, which is based on the book Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America first published in 2004.

DiCaprio and Scorsese have been developing the project for some time, and sources say they always felt this was a story that has resonated throughout the years. and still does. DiCaprio first landed rights to the book in 2010, and though the project has gone through various stages of development over the years, including a TV series adaptation at Hulu that never came to fruition), insiders say that following a meeting with 20th Century execs, all parties were on board to tell this story at the theatrical level.

The story follows Dr. HH Holmes, a cunning serial killer believed to have murdered anywhere from 27 to 200 people at a time when the city of Chicago was enthralled with hosting the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. The book plays off the contrasts between the hopeful expectations and wonders presented at the exposition and the dark deeds of Holmes, who maneuvered in its shadows.

This marks another massive victory for the studio, Disney Live-Action and 20th Century president David Greenbaum and Steve Asbell, who have been on a roll going back to landing another high-profile package: the Bruce Springsteen pic Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White. They quickly followed that by landing the sought-after package The Barrier starring Austin Butler with Edward Berger directing. All three projects line up with what Greenbaum wants for 20th: films that that embody commercial, global theatrical and prestige with A-list talent and original filmmaking.

Asbell, Greenbaum and SVP Production Sarah Shepard will be overseeing Devil in the White City for the studio.

LBI Entertainment reps DiCaprio, Appian Way and Scorsese, who is also repped by WME.