Hulu's long-awaited adaptation of Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City" faces significant challenges after losing director Todd Field just days after Keanu Reeves exited the project. Reeves was set to play Daniel H. Burnham, the noted architect entangled in the tale of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the notorious serial killer Dr. H.H. Holmes. Field was not only supposed to direct at least the first two episodes but also serve as an executive producer for the series. The simultaneous departure of both Field and Reeves casts doubt on the production's smooth progression, leaving Hulu urgently seeking both a new director and lead actor.

Originally envisioned as a feature film with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese attached, the adaptation has encountered numerous hurdles since its conception in 2010. Despite Hulu's commitment to transforming it into a series, the recent losses place the project back into "developmental purgatory." While DiCaprio and Scorsese remain actively involved as producers, the departure of its top talent raises concerns about the project's future. Meanwhile, both Field and Reeves continue to have promising career prospects, with Field's critically acclaimed film "Tár" and Reeves' upcoming "John Wick: Chapter 4."