Martin Scorsese's plan to adapt Erik Larson’s book, titled Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, is coming to fruition once again as 20th Century Studios has acquired the rights to turn it into a film. Deadline was first to report the news. Scorsese is producing the film as well, alongside his longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio, along with the latter's partner at Appian Way Productions Jennifer Davisson, Stacey Sher, and Rick Yorn. The book revolves around a serial killer named Dr HH Holmes who killed people at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.

The project has long been in the works. Appian Way Productions of DiCaprio earned the rights to adapt the book into a film in 2010, with the actor to feature in the lead role. Scorsese joined the project as its director five years later, alongside screenwriter Billy Ray. But it did not materialise back then. While Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner initiated the project through their production label Cruise/Wagner's partnership with Paramount, this option became invalid back in 2004. Then, Paramount earned the rights once again and initiated the project with producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg. A web series adaptation of the book was also in the works, with actor Keanu Reeves and director Todd Field, but it got shelved two years ago.

Scorsese and DiCaprio worked on films such as Gangs of New York, The Departed, The Aviator, Shutter Island, Killers of the Flower Moon, and The Wolf of Wall Street,