Two films focus on 'Black Dahlia' killings

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Two U.S. movies about the same Hollywood killer are in the works -- Brian De Palma's "The Black Dahlia" and New Line's adaptation of "Black Dahlia Avenger."

New Line just acquired rights to "Black Dahlia Avenger," a book written by Steve Hodel, a former Los Angeles homicide detective, who investigated a Hannibal Lecter-type murderer, Daily Variety reported.

Ralph Pezzullo will write the script about the man who may have killed a dozen people, including actress Elizabeth Short, whose body was severed in half.

Within two weeks, "The Black Dahlia," an adaptation of James Ellroy's novel about the same 1940s crimes, will be released. The film, directed by Brian De Palma, stars Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Aaron Eckhart and Josh Hartnett. Ellroy also wrote the introduction to Hodel's book.