DiCaprio buys film rights to Devil in the White City; plans to play Holmes. Read the official press release
APPIAN WAY BRINGS THE DEVIL TO LIFE
LEONARDO DICAPRIO’S APPIAN WAY PRODUCTIONS JOINS DOUBLE FEATURE FILMS TO PRODUCE ERIK LARSON’S SPELLBINDING MASTERPIECE:
“THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY”
Los Angeles, CA (November 1, 2010) – Appian Way Productions is set to join Double Feature Films to bring the devil to the big screen in Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City.” Appian is co-chaired by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Killoran, and Double Feature is helmed by Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher. The deal for the sought-after book rights was brokered by Lucy Stille at Paradigm on behalf of David Black of Black Inc.
“The Devil in the White City,” which spent three years on The New York Times bestseller list, has sold 2.3 million copies and has been translated into 17 languages. Author Erik Larson’s literary tour de force recreates a time in America when modernity was within reach, a moment in history when mass murderers like Jack the Ripper and H.H. Holmes found success in killing and the corpse trade. Set in late 19th century Chicago, the non-fiction thriller exposes the murders, magic and madness that H.H. Holmes so skillfully choreographed and executed in his “murder castle,” a hotel that he opened in preparation for the 1893 World’s Fair. Through brilliantly vivid dialogue, the film follows both the planning and execution of the mass murders, which take place during the city’s most profound moment on the world’s stage.
In the film, DiCaprio plays the murder-minded H.H. Holmes, a cavalier charlatan who takes advantage of somewhere between 27 and 200 people, mostly single young women, to develop a lucrative personal cadaver-disposal system.
“‘The Devil in the White City’ is truly a one-of-its-kind American story about our nation’s first serial killer,” said Killoran. “We’re excited to bring it to the big screen.”
“This is a big, entertaining thriller in an incredible setting that will appeal to a worldwide audience,” said Shamberg and Sher.
Read the full official press release.