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Interested in learning what’s rumored to be on the development table this week? You’ve come to the right place—especially if you’re a fan of Keanu Reeves. The “John Wick” actor could be taking on his first major U.S. television role with Hulu’s series adaptation of “The Devil in the White City.” Along with this hot gossip, Jessica Chastain also is making headlines. Her production banner reportedly has nabbed the rights to adapt the recent novel “The School for Good Mothers” into a TV series. Here’s everything we know so far about these new developments.
Keanu Reeves Is in Talks to Join “The Devil in the White City”
Could Keanu Reeves soon be signing on for his first big U.S. television role? Deadline broke the news that the “John Wick” and “Matrix” star is now in talks to star in Hulu’s upcoming series adaptation of Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City.” Set around The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, the story links “Daniel H. Burnham, a brilliant and fastidious architect racing to make his mark on the world, and Henry H. Holmes, a handsome and cunning doctor who fashioned his own pharmaceutical ‘Murder Castle’ on the fairgrounds.” The film has been in development for over a decade, after Leonardo DiCaprio bought the rights all the way back in 2010. It has gone through various stages of potential production, including once being set up as a Paramount feature directed by Martin Scorsese. Both are still attached to the project as executive producers on the series, as announced in 2019. “Castle Rock” creator Sam Shaw will write for the series, and Todd Field will direct two episodes. No other directors, writers, or a showrunner have been announced at this time.
Jessica Chastain’s Production Banner Is Getting the Rights to “The School for Good Mothers”
School is now in session for Jessica Chastain. According to Deadline, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” star and her Freckle Films banner have reportedly optioned the TV rights to Jessamine Chan’s novel “The School for Good Mothers.” A debut for Chan just published by Simon & Schuster, the dystopian drama “follows Frida Liu, who leaves her daughter alone for a few hours, forcing government officials to determine whether she is a candidate for a Big Brother–like institution that measures the success or failure of a mother’s devotion.” “Finding Ohana” director Jude Weng is attached to helm the project. Both Weng and Chan will executive produce the potential series along with Chastain and her producing partner Kelly Carmichael.
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