Casey Affleck to lead the hunt in Boston Strangler

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

News is coming in that Casey Affleck is setting himself up at Warner Bros to produce and star in BOSTON STRANGLER, a historical account of the police search for the notorious serial killer. Warner Bros has bought the pitch from Affleck and 2011 Black List writer Chuck Maclean. The actor, of course, will play a key member of the Boston P.D.’s Strangler Squad. Said group caught the killer, Alberto DeSalvo (pictured below), during the height of Strangler hysteria, though he was convicted of unrelated crimes (which brought his status as the lone killer into question). As for the film’s plot:

The movie 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.

The script is being compared to SE7EN or ZODIAC, albeit with some heavy political and conspiratorial overtones. Langley Park, who is responsible for GANGSTER SQUAD, will be producing for Warner. Though it’s still in the early stages, BOSTON STRANGLER may have the makings of a great investigative serial killer flick. True crime scholars feel free to talkback with your thoughts on the project and check back with us for further updates on BOSTON STRANGLER.