H.H. Holmes, electrical appliances, Hershey’s Mile Chocolate, and the world’s first Ferris Wheel (pictured above) were some of the highlights of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas) will once again be teaming up with his Wolf of Wall Street and The Departed star Leonardo DiCaprio for an upcoming adaptation of author Erik Larson‘s The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America. The book tells the story of “America’s first serial killer,” H.H. Holmes, who during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair is believed to be responsible for the murders of at least 27 people. Holmes was hanged in 1896 for his crimes of building a hotel (now famously known as The Murder Castle) in which he would prey and torture his ‘guests’ before finally killing them, all the while disguising himself as a doctor. Although he confessed to 27 murders, the actual total is believed to be in the hundreds. During his trial, Holmes stated that he could not help his position in life as a serial killer, and that the “Evil One” was present at the bedside when he was born and stuck with and influenced him for the rest of his life. DiCaprio actually acquired the rights to the book/film six years ago, and since then production has been on hold until a solid director and writer could come onboard to fully adapt the project. Screenwriter Billy Ray (The Hunger Games, Captain Phillips) is expected to adapt the book for the big screen. Stay tuned for further news updates!