DiCaprio will play a serial killer in Martin Scorsese's movie

The project, which was the result of a long collaboration between Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese, is finally returning to production after years of delays. The film, based on true events, tells the story of serial killer H.H. Holmes, who committed his crimes during the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.

This project has been discussed for more than a decade, but recently it was reported that it has again entered pre-production. The return to work on the film was made possible thanks to the support of the Hollywood studio 20th Century, which, after being acquired by Disney, continues to implement this large-scale project, Deadline notes.

"The Devil in the White City": the book as a basis for the film adaptation

The film will be an adaptation of Erik Larson's book "Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America." In his book, Larson describes in detail the activities of Holmes, who organized the so-called "Murder Castle" in Chicago, where, according to investigations, he tortured and killed his victims. The true story of this criminal captures the imagination with its ominous and mysterious atmosphere, which is perfect for a movie adaptation.

DiCaprio and Scorsese: a longstanding collaboration

Leonardo DiCaprio acquired the rights to film the book back in 2010. The collaboration between the actor and Martin Scorsese has resulted in numerous successes on the screen, in particular after working on "The Wolf of Wall Street." However, despite a ready-made script from Billy Ray, the film was not released for many years. Reasons for the delays included changing approaches to the project format and a lack of support from the studio.

In 2022, The Devil in the White City was turned into a television series for Hulu, starring Keanu Reeves. However, even this version was not completed, and the project was put on hold again when Reeves and director Todd Field left. Nevertheless, the issue of returning to production never left the film's chances of being filmed.

Now the project is back in pre-production, and the team is working to resolve all the issues. Although the finished script has not yet been added to the film, preparations for filming are underway. 20th Century Studio is taking the lead in production, which allows the project to receive the necessary support for a successful launch.

Martin Scorsese is currently working on several major projects, including an adaptation of the novel The Life of Jesus and a biopic about Frank Sinatra. However, he hasn't given up on the idea of making a movie about a serial killer. Leonardo DiCaprio is also not stopping at this project and will soon present a new work in partnership with Paul Thomas Anderson.

Despite the great ambitions for the production, it is difficult to predict when exactly "The Devil in the White City" will see the light of day. Given the current schedule of Scorsese and DiCaprio, as well as other plans, the film's release may be postponed for several more years.

"The Devil in the White City" also attracts attention because of its unique place in the history of criminal investigations. The story of H.H. Holmes, one of the most feared serial killers in the United States, is a significant milestone in the evolution of justice and the fight against crime. In addition to the criminal himself, the film has a huge potential to explore the social and psychological aspects surrounding such tragedies.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.