Remember when Leonardo DiCaprio said he was planning to take a long break from acting after "Django Unchained" and "The Great Gatsby"? Well, that didn’t really seem to happen. He’s currently shooting Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s "The Revenant," his slate as a producer is massive, and now he’s just tacked on another gig that will seem both producing and starring.
DiCaprio is taking the lead in the true story tale, "The Crowded Room," a project he’s been trying to get off the ground for years, and one that other filmmakers have tried to make too. In fact, James Cameron, Joel Schumacher, and David Fincher toyed with it at various points, and the subject matter is intriguing. Based on Daniel Keyes‘ book "The Minds of Billy Milligan," it tells the story of the titular man, who became the first person to use the legal defence of multiple personality disorder successfully. Milligan had been charged with a series of rapes, but his defense team claimed some of his twenty-four other personalities had committed the crimes without his knowledge. Milligan was acquitted but spent significant time in state run mental hospitals after the trial.
Jason Smilovic ("Lucky Number Slevin," "Arms And The Dudes") and Todd Katzberg will write the script. No word yet on a director, but the movie is set up by New Regency, who also happen to be behind "The Revenant." But let’s hope this one finally gets out of development hell. [THR]
