Mark Romanek (Never Let Me Go, One Hour Photo) is in talks to direct the upcoming Warner Bros. crime thriller Boston Strangler. The film is set to star Casey Affleck (also executive producing), although it is not yet clear whether he will play the 1960’s serial killer or the detective on his trail.
Romanek’s pitch for the film is said to be tonally similar to David Fincher’s thrillers Seven and Zodiac. The two directors met while Romanek was making music videos at Satellite Films, a boutique division of Propaganda Films, where Fincher was already an established talent.
The real-life Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, confessed to the killings of 13 women (most of whom were sexually assaulted and strangled with stockings) in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Despite his confession, many investigators believe that the murders were not all committed by one person. In 2013 the Boston Police Department released DNA evidence linking DeSalvo to the murder of Mary Sullivan, the final victim of the Boston Strangler.
The infamous killer has been the subject of several films including 1968’s The Boston Strangler which starred Tony Curtis as DeSalvo and Henry Fonda as the detective hunting him down. The story explores the question of why many of the women willingly opened their doors for the man who was about to kill them.
Production on Boston Strangler will have to wait until Affleck is done filming John Hillcoat’s crime drama Triple Nine.
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