Recent developments in Hulu's upcoming series The Devil in the White City have revealed that Keanu Reeves is now in talks to star in the leading role. The series will be based on the novel The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson released in 2003. The plot follows the true story of two men, Daniel H. Burnham (an architect) and Henry H. Holmes (a serial killer) whose lives become forever linked at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
An adaptation of the novel has been in development for many years after actor Leonardo DiCaprio bought the rights to the novel in 2010. DiCaprio had originally envisioned adapting the novel into a feature film with his long-time collaborator Martin Scorsese directing. Not much more was heard on the development of the project for quite some time, until Hulu announced that they had plans to develop the novel into a series in 2019, with both DiCaprio and Scorsese now in executive producing roles.
Per Deadline, it was revealed that The Matrix actor Keanu Reeves is now in talks to star in the series. The series will mark Reeves' first major role in a TV series, and also shows a big step forward in the development of the novel's adaptation. It is currently unknown which of the two lead roles Reeves is in negotiation to play.
Reeves' negotiations for the series are likely considered a huge win for Hulu, as the series has been stuck in development for so long. Reeves himself is just coming off the release of The Matrix Resurrections, as well as having recently completed filming on the fourth installment of his very successful John Wick series. Reeves is currently in very high demand, and it is likely that Hulu is doing its best to snag Reeves before another offer comes along.
While the casting is not final, it would certainly be interesting to see Reeves in the world of The Devil in the White City. While Reeves has taken on some more dramatic roles in the past, he is mostly known these days as an action star. With that being said, it is likely that Reeves' trademark subdued acting style will lend itself well to the macabre world of the novel. As the series currently has no release date, the only thing to do for fans of The Devil in the White City and Reeves alike is to wait patiently to hear whether Reeves will be making an appearance as a brilliant architect or a notorious serial killer.
Source: Deadline