Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are one of the most respected duos in Hollywood. In terms of success, the only director-actor pairing that tops it is Scorsese's relationships with his other muse, Robert De Niro. That being said, Scorsese and DiCaprio still have more gas in the tank, as evidenced by the news of their latest venture.
Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together on six features and one short film, but the number would be much higher if they had their way. The duo have attempted to launch several other films over the years, including a Frank Sinatra biopic and a historical drama exploring Teddy Roosevelt's presidency.
DiCarprio is tenatively set to play serial killer H.H. Holmes
One of these failed attempts, however, has been resurrected: The Devil In the White City. The film is set to be an adaptation of the nonfiction book of the same name, which details the exploits of serial killer H.H. Holmes in 1890s Chicago. DiCaprio is set to play Holmes, and will executive produce with Scorsese.
The announcement that Devil In the White City is moving forward is a bit of a surprise, given the lengthy production limbo that the film has been stuck in. DiCaprio purchased the rights to the book back in 2010, and plans to turn it into a Scorsese-helmed thriller were confirmed in 2015.
Things got complicated around the turn of the decade. The Devil In the White City was repackaged as a Hulu miniseries, with DiCaprio and Scorsese set to produce. Keanu Reeves was cast as H.H. Holmes and Todd Field was slated to direct, according to Variety. Then, plans for the TV version fell through.
DiCaprio purchased the book rights back in 2010
The film has come full circle. On August 8, 2024, producer Stacey Sher confirmed that The Devil In the White City is being resurrected as a Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle. "I’m still involved," she told Deadline. "I never give up... Rick , Leo, Jen , and Mr. Scorsese. We’re all still involved."
Sher went on to note that concrete start dates have not yet been set, but she's confident that the film will come to fruition:
" It’s not imminent, but it is not ever far from my mind."
Scorsese and DiCaprio most recently collaborated on Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). The film was hailed by critics as a masterpiece, and subsequently nominated for ten Oscars including Best Picture.