THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY
plans for a screen adaptation
of Erik Larson’s book
Latest News
January 22, 2025: 20th Century Studios picks up The Devil in the White City as a feature film.
March 6, 2023: Hulu dropped plans to produce The Devil in the White City TV miniseries.
August 29, 2022: “According to a recent listing in Production Weekly, the series is reportedly scheduled to begin filming in March 2023 and will be filmed entirely in Chicago. Exact filming dates and locations have yet to be disclosed at this time.” [ReelChicago.com]
Development of Devil in the White City
A film adaptation of The Devil in the White City was first developed by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner through their Cruise/Wagner company, but the option lapsed in 2004. Paramount acquired the film rights in 2007 and set it up with producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher. Leonardo DiCaprio bought the film rights to The Devil in the White City in 2010 and began developing it as a feature film for Paramount studios to be directed by Martin Scorsese with DiCaprio was set to star in the leading role of the killer Holmes.
In 2019, the project changed to a big-budget miniseries for the streaming service Hulu. The series is being produced by Paramount TV Studios, ABC Signature, and Appian Way. Hulu canceled their plans in March 2023, but ABC Signature remains committed to the drama and will be shopping the show to new outlets.
Credits
Cast
Keanu Reeves as Daniel Burnham(confirmed 8/4/2022) (exited 10/7/2022)- Matt Damon?
- Robert Pattison?
Producers
- Sam Shaw (show runner)
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Martin Scorsese
- Keanu Reeves
- Jennifer Davisson
- Rick Yorn
- Stacey Sher
- Lila Byock
Todd Field(exited 10/10/2022)- Mark Lafferty
- ? Emma Koskoff
Writers
Directors
Todd Field reportedly will direct the first two episodes. (out 10/10/2022)
More Information
Internet Movie Database (IMDB) page for the miniseries The Devil in the White City
Posts about Erik Larson’s 2003 book, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Sept. 24, 2021: “Romanticism to Ruin: Two Lost Works of Sullivan and Wright” (Chicago)
An exhibit at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago explores two lost architectural masterworks: the Garrick Theatre Building in Chicago designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Larkin Building in Buffalo. Curated by John Vinci, Tim Samuelson, Eric Nordstrom, Chris Ware and Jonathan D. Katz, “Romanticism to Ruin: Two Lost Works of Sullivan and Wright” uses fragments, drawings, photography, and narrative to elucidate the life and death [...]
Will Keanu Reeves be the Devil in the White City?
“I believe our adventure through time has taken a most serious turn.” Deadline and other news outlets are reporting that Keanu Reeves (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures, The Matrix) is in talks to star in The Devil in the White City limited series being produced for Hulu. The show will be an adaptation of Erik Larson’s best-selling 2003 non-fiction book that interweaves the true stories of renowned architect [...]
Jan. 28, 2022: “Innovations at the 1893 World’s Fair” (online)
Chicago Detours invites guests to explore “Innovations at the 1893 World's Fair” on January 28, 2022, at 7 pm. Through a virtual visit (via Zoom) to the World's Columbian Exposition, attendees will delve into the inventions, engineering feats, and gastronomical exhibits that wowed visitors to Chicago's most esteemed event. During this one-hour tour, you will see interior photos of the jaw-dropping sights like the Electricity Hall and the Manufacturers [...]
Jan. 14, 2022: “A Day at the 1893 World’s Fair” (online)
Chicago Detours invites guests to “A Day at the 1893 World's Fair” January 14, 2022, at 7 pm. Through a virtual visit (via Zoom) to the World's Columbian Exposition, attendees will learn how to get to the fairgrounds and purchase tickets, where to find lunch, and even where to find a bathroom. During this one-hour tour, you will learn about the people, places and ideas from the World’s Fair [...]
132. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Columbian Obelisk
THE COLUMBIAN OBELISK.- The Obelisk, which was the prominent object at the southern end of the South Canal, connected the wonderful civilization the World's Fair represented with the hardly less wonderful civilization of thousands of years ago. Ancient Egypt furnished, in a manner, her contribution to the architecture of the Columbian Exposition, the Obelisk, from a distance, reminding the observer of one of the " Cleopatra's Needles," of which, [...]
Season’s Readings: 2021 Books about the World’s Columbian Exposition
2019 brought several additions to the World’s Columbian Exposition bookshelf.
131. Picturesque World’s Fair – Interior of the Chinese Joss House
INTERIOR OF THE CHINESE JOSS HOUSE.—Even conservative and ancient China did not keep away from the World's Fair entirely, though the exhibit made was the result of private enterprise, the Chinese government manifesting no great interest in the friendly reunion of the rest of the world. What was known as the Wah Mee Exposition Company had the energy as well as the capital to erect a Chinese Village in [...]
“Process exhibits” at the 1893 World’s Fair
A new article posted at History.com explores the evolution of how manufacturers exhibited their products at expositions. In “How Early World Fairs Put Industrial Revolution Progress on Display,” Elizabeth Yuko describes how exhibitors at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition used “process exhibits” to give fairgoers “the chance to witness firsthand how everything from glass to shoes to foods were made.” A view looking north along Columbia Avenue in [...]
130. Picturesque World’s Fair – Fire-Works July 4th from the roof of the Manufactures Building
FIRE-WORKS JULY 4th FROM THE ROOF OF THE MANUFACTURES BUILDING.--A view of just such quality as was never had before and may not be had again for a long time was gained by those of the World's Fair visitors who witnessed a fire-works display from such vantage ground as the roof of the Manufactures Building afforded. Upon that great area in mid-air a host of people could be assembled [...]
129. Picturesque World’s Fair – The Spanish Caravels – Pinta and Nina
THE SPANISH CARAVELS, " PINTA" AND " NIÑA."—The Spanish Caravels should have had their names painted on their sides to distinguish them apart; at least, so thought many of the visitors to the Fair; for their build was singularly alike with the " Santa Maria " and " Pinta." The " Niña " was distinguishable enough, as she had no raised deck at the bow, did not overhang like [...]