Casey Affleck sold a film pitch to Warner Bros. based on the infamous Boston Strangler, a serial killer who terrorized Boston during the early 1960s. Affleck, who is producing the movie, is also looking to star in it as one of the detectives who was part of the Strangler Squad responsible for solving the crime.
According to Deadline the tone of the film will be similar to Se7en and Zodiac, the story will cover one of the most haunting unsolved serial murderers in U.S. history. It "follows an ambitious detective who is willing to risk career and life in a race to bring down the most notorious sexual predator of the day, while battling a political cover-up by corrupt politicians and lawyers trying to save their careers. Boston pols were desperate for a conviction; the early murders centered on older women living alone, but when police found a 21-year old victim, the public panicked. Soon, guns and door locks became scarce in Boston and pressure grew to end the hysteria by locking up someone."
Albert DeSalvo was a criminal in Boston, who confessed to being the "Boston Strangler", who killed thirteen women. DeSalvo was not imprisoned for these murders though, he was imprisoned for a series of rapes. Over the years his murder confession has been disputed, and debated regarding which crimes DeSalvo actually committed. There's still belief that more than one killer was involved, and that DeSalvo was a pawn in a bigger conspiracy.
The script will be written by Boston native screenwriter Chuck Maclean. I think Casey Affleck is a much better actor than his older brother, and this has the makings of a great film. I love movies like this, David Fincher's Zodiac is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I'll be looking forward to this one!