I was watching a documentary/interview on one of the Batman producers from WB who says on average it takes 8 years to get a movie made in Hollywood.... and this script has been around for so long and so beloved, that to get Tarsem is a kick in the nuts to that screenwriter
I'd love to see Fincher, Ridley Scott or another great director do "The Devil in the White City." I head Tom Cruise and Fincher were attached at some point.