First they had it, and then they didn’t. Now they have it again. Of course, I’m talking about Paramount reaquiring the rights to do the big screen adaptation of Erik (no relation to ‘The Far Side’ Gary Larson) Larson’s bestseller, ‘The Devil In The White City’, which was previously held by producing partners Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner. The studio reacquired the rights to the book after being approached by producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher last month. Sher and Shamberg’s company, Double Feature Films, has a new first-look deal with the studio.
The book, which is set against the backdrop of the 1983 Chicago World’s Fair, tells the intertwining stories of fair architect Daniel H. Burnham and serial killer H.H. Holmes, who used a hotel he built near the fairgrounds to lure his victims. In case you’re wondering, this is no fictional story, folks, as the very real Dr. H.H. Holmes trapped and murdered possibly hundreds of guests at his Chicago hotel, which he opened for the 1893 World’s Fair. He confessed to 27 murders, though only nine have ever been confirmed.
Originally, Cruise/Wagner Prods. had the rights to the film in 2003, but the option lapsed in 2004, and we all know what happened to Cruise afterwards. Heck, Kathryn Bigelow (of Arrow fave NEAR DARK fame) was attached to direct and produce the film when Cruise/Wagner had the film, but the project was stalled over creative differences between Bigelow and Cruise/Wagner. Go figure.
For those curious, head here for more info on Holmes and his murders.