Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's H.H. Homes Project DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY Gets Promising Update
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's adaptation of the book The Devil in the White City is one of those projects that I’ve been excited about seeing get made, but it can’t seem to ever get off the ground and into production.
The series tells the true story of Daniel H. Burnham, “a demanding but visionary architect who races to make his mark on history with the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and Dr. H. H. Holmes, America’s first modern serial killer and the man behind the notorious ‘Murder Castle’ built in the Fair’s shadow.”
Keanu Reeves was actually set to star in the series as Burnham and Todd Field was on board to direct when it was set up at Hulu. But that all fell apart and Hulu scrapped the project.
But, the project isn’t dead! Producer Stacey Sher recently offered and update telling Deadline: "I'm still involved. I never give up. It's not imminent, but it is not ever far from my mind. Rick [Yorn], Leo [DiCaprio], Jen [Davisson], and Mr. Scorsese; we're all still involved."
The series would have taken audiences on “a tour of murder, romance, and mystery in the gilded age.” Holmes admitted to killing 27 people, but in reality is said to have killed closer to 200 people.
“He built The World’s Fair Hotel, which was an inn for people to stay at while visiting, and the sociopath used his charming demeanor to lure guests into his hotel, which has since come to be known as the murder castle.
“The castle included a gas chamber, crematorium, and a dissecting table where he would murder his victims and strip their skeletons to sell for medical and scientific study. When Holmes was arrested, he told the police:
"I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing — I was born with the 'Evil One' standing as my sponsor beside the bed where I was ushered into the world, and he has been with me since."
Sam Shaw wrote the series and was going to serve as showrunner. It’s good to know that the producing team hasn’t given up on the project and that they are still trying to make it happen.
This story is too interesting and crazy not to develop as a series or film, so hopefully it happens at some point down the road.