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After more than a decade of the project being in development, The Devil in the White City finally has a leading star, as Keanu Reeves has been cast as the protagonist in the Hulu Orignal series. Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are set to serve as the executive producers for the adaptation, after failing to develop television projects related to Gangs of New York and Shutter Island. The news came to reporters earlier this Thursday as part of Hulu’s portion of the Television Critics Association Summer 2022 Press Tour.
Sam Shaw (Castle Rock) is attached as an executive producer, showrunner, and writer. While an official episode count hasn’t been established for the series as of now, Todd Field has been attached as a director. Additionally, ABC Signature will produce the project in association with Paramount Television Studios.
Alongside Scorsese, DiCaprio, and Shaw, Field, Reeves, Rick Yorn, Jennifer Davisson, Stacey Sher, Mark Lafferty, and Lila Byock will also be executive producing. DiCaprio and Scorsese have previously worked together in Shutter Island, Gangs of New York, The Departed, The Aviator, and The Wolf of Wall Street.
Background on The Devil in the White City
The series will adapt Erik Larson’s best-selling historical non-fiction novel. Reeves will be portraying Daniel H. Burnham, a determined and highly-capable architect who seeks to create a legacy of his own during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The Devil in the White City also focuses on Dr. H. H. Holmes, a criminal figure who is credited as America’s first modern serial killer.
The film rights to Larson’s novel were purchased by DiCaprio in 2010. Larson’s novel was previously planned to be adapted into a feature film, with Scorsese directing and DiCaprio as the leading man. The duo will still be involved in the upcoming adaptation, but solely behind the scenes.
Source: Variety
Also, if you are looking to acquaint yourself more with Larson’s novel in time for the Hulu series, you can purchase the source material on Amazon here!
This article was edited by John Tangalin.