Exclusive: Matt Damon Top Choice For A Highly-Anticipated Serial Killer Series
Matt Damon is eyed to star in this series about America's first serial killer.
This article is more than 2 years old
Matt Damon has made a name for himself by playing hard-edged and determined characters like Jason Bourne over the years. However, he has been flying a little under the radar over the past few years with his most prominent roles being in The Martian and Jason Bourne back in 2015 and 2016. While he has stayed busy in both the realms of acting and producing, he hasn’t had a big star-powered role in a while. Well, according to our trusted industry insider – the same one who gave us our confirmed scoop about Josh Brolin returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thanos – it looks like the celebrated actor could be headlining a major upcoming series.
Our info says that Matt Damon is the number one pick to star in The Devil in the White City, the upcoming series adaptation of the true-crime book by author Erik Larson. The series is set to be directed by legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The story details two concurrent events: the building and exhibition of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago and the murders of H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer. We have already reported that Robert Pattinson is in talks to play the role of H.H. Holmes, and our info says that Damon is the studio’s most desired actor for the role of Daniel Burnham, the architect behind the World’s Fair.
It sounds like the kind of role that would really give Matt Damon a chance to flex his superior acting muscles. Frankly, he has not been given a whole lot of great showcases for that in recent years. He has had roles in films like Downsizing, Suburbicon, and Ford v Ferrari that have been serviceable at best, but he has not gotten to really demonstrate his exceptional thespian skills in the last five years. The role of Daniel Burnham would undoubtedly be crafted as a way to give Damon a platform for his great acting abilities. And if he would be starring alongside Robert Pattinson, it would be exciting to see the two of them bring out the best in each other as performers.
If Matt Damon does end up in the role of Daniel Burnham in The Devil in the White City, it would help get the project rolling at super speed. Martin Scorsese and producing partner Leonardo DiCaprio have been trying to get a filmed version of The Devil in the White City off the ground for over ten years now. It is the kind of story that seems inherently cinematic – a prolific and twisted serial killer on the hunt during one of the largest public events in the country at the time – and could have the potential to be one of the most talked-about series in recent memory. Getting to see maestro Martin Scorsese use the limited series format to his advantage would be reason enough to make this a must-see endeavor.
Hopefully, Matt Damon will sign on the dotted line and we can hear some official confirmation about The Devil in the White City going into production at some point this year. It has taken over a decade for the project to get going, and this kind of casting announcement could be the spark that lights the fuse.
