Eric Roth Writing for Martin Scorsese: Is “Devil in the White City” Finally Happening?
Few collaborations in cinema command as much anticipation as those between Martin Scorsese and the industry’s most celebrated talents. Yesterday, news of a fresh spark reignited around Scorsese’s much-delayed adaptation of Devil in the White City. With Leonardo DiCaprio already attached to star, fans wondered if this long-gestating project might finally take off. Adding fuel to the fire is screenwriter Eric Roth‘s recent revelation on the Final Draft podcast that he’s currently penning a screenplay for Scorsese.
What We Know So Far
Scorsese’s attempt to adapt Erik Larson’s bestselling historical thriller Devil in the White City has been a cinematic white whale. The book intertwines the stories of two titanic figures: architect Daniel Burnham, who built the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, and serial killer H.H. Holmes, who used the fair as a hunting ground. For nearly two decades, Scorsese and DiCaprio have teased the project, but delays have plagued its journey to the screen.
Eric Roth’s involvement now raises the tantalizing possibility that the wait could be over. Known for crafting deeply emotional narratives in films like Forrest Gump, The Insider, and Dune, Roth has already worked with Scorsese on Killers of the Flower Moon, a sprawling, meticulously crafted epic. His return to collaborate with the director feels like a natural continuation of their shared cinematic language.
Why “Devil in the White City” Makes Sense
There’s a poetic symmetry to Roth taking another stab at Devil in the White City. In 2008, he wrote an early version of the screenplay when David Fincher briefly entertained directing it. Though that iteration fizzled, Roth’s passion for Larson’s novel hasn’t wavered. With Scorsese’s involvement solidified since 2015, it seems only fitting that Roth’s expertise might finally bring this layered narrative to life.
Interestingly, Scorsese’s other projects in development don’t align as well with Roth’s track record. Sinatra and Life of Jesus are reportedly in limbo, while Home, a potential collaboration with Todd Field, already has other writers attached. All signs point to Devil in the White City as the logical contender.
Eric Roth: A Master of Storytelling
Roth’s filmography is a testament to his ability to balance historical scope with intimate emotional stakes. Whether exploring the moral ambiguities of espionage in Munich or the sweeping romance of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Roth’s work resonates because it connects humanity to the grandeur of history. His writing has a rhythmic quality—every word meticulously chosen, every scene a tapestry of emotion and intellect.
With Devil in the White City, Roth would face the challenge of blending the architectural triumphs of Burnham with the chilling depravity of Holmes. It’s a juxtaposition that demands both precision and poeticism—two qualities Roth has mastered.
The Stakes for Scorsese and DiCaprio
For Scorsese, Devil in the White City could be another defining chapter in a career that continually reinvents itself. The project offers him the chance to explore themes of ambition, morality, and human fallibility—concepts that have underpinned many of his greatest works. DiCaprio, meanwhile, has long sought to portray Holmes, a character whose charisma masks monstrous intent. It’s a role that could rival his portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street in its complexity.
Personal Impressions
As someone who has followed Scorsese’s career and Roth’s work for years, the prospect of this collaboration is electrifying. There’s something thrilling about the idea of Roth revisiting a script that has eluded completion for so long. His writing, with its nuanced character studies and moral depth, feels perfectly suited to Larson’s material. And Scorsese, a master of visual storytelling, could transform the narrative into something operatic and haunting.
The wait for Devil in the White City has been excruciating, but perhaps that’s fitting. After all, the story itself is one of patience, ambition, and the lengths we’ll go to chase greatness—even in the face of darkness.
Do you think Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese can finally bring Devil in the White City to life? What excites you most about this potential collaboration?
