Both Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are legends all on their own, but imagine what will happen when these two powerhouses join forces? Apparently, the talented duo was hired by Hulu to create an adaptation of the novel The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson—a project DiCaprio was pushing to create for a while now.
The Devil in the White City is actually a serial-killer novel, and DiCaprio previously purchased the adaptation rights in 2010, with the hope that Scorsese would help him direct it. DiCaprio, of course, wanted to play the role of the serial killer in the novel, Henry H. Holmes (because who else would he be suited to play other than the main star?). Just to give you a little background, the novel is based on a true story, recounting the lives of two men: Daniel H. Burnham and Henry H. Holmes. Holmes was a handsome doctor and created a “Murder Castle” on the fairground at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, where he lured women in to seduce, torture, and mutilate them. The story is about how their fates crossed.
Instead of turning the novel into a movie, which was DiCaprio’s original plan, the two men decided to approach Hulu to develop it as a serial-killer television series. It’s still unconfirmed whether DiCaprio still wants them to play the main character or if Scorsese still wants to direct.
While you wait, check out Five Gifts Every Film Buff Will Appreciate!
Article originally published on February 19, 2019 (updated April 29th 2026)
