Netflix has reportedly purchased the global rights to “The Irishman” the long-awaited new mafia movie from acclaimed director Martin Scorsese for $105 million dollars.
The film has been talked about for years and may finally happen if Scorsese and Netflix can close the deal to release the movie to the streaming services 93 million subscribers. Production is expected to start later this year according to the Indiewire report and sources are aiming for a 2019 release. The Irishman will reportedly have a cast of Hollywood elite especially in the world of gangster films including Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and Bobby Cannavale. There have also been some reports of Al Pacino possibly being attached to the project.
“Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro”
The script was written by Steve Zaillian which is based on the book “I Heard You Paint Houses” by Charles Brandt that details the life of reputed mob hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran. Brandt conducted some extensive interviews with the former mafia associate and Teamster official before his death in 2003. Sheeran claimed to be an associate of the Northeastern Pennsylvania crime family also known as the Bufalino crime family led by boss Russell Bufalino. He said it was Bufalino that first set him up with Jimmy Hoffa who needed muscle to fend off and kill rival union members threatening the Teamsters. He and Hoffa would become close friends and he looked to him as a bit of a mentor as he became a high official in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
According to Sheeran the first words spoken to him by Hoffa were “I heard you paint houses” which was mafia code for killing someone. Sheeran said he was tasked by Bufalino to kill Hoffa and approx 30 other mobsters including Joseph “Crazy Joe” Gallo during his illustrious career as a hitman. His claims to killing Hoffa have been both disputed and discredited by many over the years. In an earlier interview, DeNiro said about the movie “It’s about a guy who confessed that he killed Hoffa and also Joe Gallo over here on Hester Street. And so I’m going to play that character; Joe Pesci’s gonna be in it and Al Pacino is going to be in it and Marty’s going to direct it.” It is still unclear as to whether or not negotiations are still ongoing as to Pacino’s participation.
Pesci is believed to be set to play the role of Pennsylvania organized crime boss Russell Bufalino with Keitel playing the role of former Philadelphia mob boss Angelo Bruno. Cannavale will play the role of Colombo crime family mobster Crazy Joe Gallo. DeNiro has also reportedly been involved with Scorsese in developing the film along with playing a key role. This new Martin Scorsese mafia movie is likely to be another fine addition to his resume of great mobster films. When it comes to films about the American Mafia Scorsese is a shining star!
Well it is about time this movie gets kicked into gear they have been talking about making it since 2008! This is definitely one I look forward to seeing because well this cast of characters speaks for itself! What a lineup even if Pacino doesn’t end up in it. Marty is the master and I expect this to be as good as his previous efforts.
I’ve got to agree, the cast looks like a fantastic lineup, with or without Pacino. And with Scorsese directing, it would be another great one to add to his collection.
I’m sure it’s gonna be good. But….. this guy claims to have killed Hoffa and Gallo? Please. All these hitman from Sullivan to Kuklinswki all claim to have killed big names years later. I call bs. Their stories are too ridiculous
Yes I am not so sure I believe call of the claims he has made as some of them seem well a little out there. But it should make for a pretty damn interesting movie esp with that cast.
I believe Hoffa is possible but it doesnt matter because we will never find out what happened to him officially. BUT he didnt kill crazy Joe Gallo there are plenty of people who said there were two gunmen and it wasnt him
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True although many people dispute his claims to the Hoffa hit that one would very well be possible.
It makes me think of the Anastasia and Galante hits, everyone and their dog claims to have done it. And let us not forget the drunk Hill who later claimed Gotti killed Desimone personally.
I believe that both Albert Anastasia and Carmine Galante were both whacked by their own respective crime families, the Gambinos killing Albert Anastasia and the Bonannos killing Carmine Galante. The same with Joseph Gallo being killed by the Colombos and Thomas DeSimone by the Luccheses. All of this talk about people outside of those families taking them out is nonsense. That’s just not how things were typically done in those days. Now Jimmy Hoffa may have been whacked by several crime families.
Those families made decision to kill, but actual hitman is always ambiguous. But for example, trafficante jr was in NYC at time of Anastasia’s murder. Some speculate his dad made him take part. I’ve heard both Gallo and Persico take credit for same hit. Colombo is debated too. Some say Gallo, some say other families decided. I know actual hits get farmed out, but I just don’t believe this guy, mad dog Sullivan, or the iceman. I think they fabricated things to sell a story.
There’s also a theory that involves Gambino mobsters like Stephen Graummata taking out Albert Anastasia paving the way for Carlo Gambino to take over. You can check it out on ganglandnews.com. I don’t believe that the Colombos (Joseph Gallo or Carmine Persico) took out the boss of the Gambinos. They took credit for killing such a notorious Mafia boss to enhance their reputations. I believe that Joseph Gallo had Joseph Colombo hit and Joseph Gallo was murdered in retaliation as part of the Colombo wars. But we will never truly know because those murders are unsolved.
Don’t forget Colombo was making a spectacle of the mafia. All the bosses wanted him dead. Don Carlo was a cagey old man, he played the genovese for a long while. It’s rumored he and other bosses ordered murder. Jerome was hired to make Gallo look guilty, as his prison connections were known. But who knows.
Galante was absolutely killed by Bonnano’s with other families approval.
I also believe Carlo was behind Anastasia’s death. Him and Profaci who didn’t like Costello/Anastasia alliance. genovese likely a suspect too.