De Palma's previous films include "The Black Dahlia," "Scarface," "The Untouchables," "Carlito's Way" and "Dressed to Kill."

The Hollywood Reporter said "Stranglers" is a thriller that will chronicle a string of real-life slayings in early 1960s Boston, as well as the case's controversial resolution.

Decades later, many people still doubt Albert DeSalvo, the man who confessed to the murders and who was later stabbed to death while jailed on unrelated charges, was the actual killer, the entertainment industry trade paper noted.