The 78-year-old actor will lend his features to Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, two Italian-American bandits who each led New York criminal organizations during the post-war period.
Although they were friends and associates in their youth, the two men developed mutual animosity as they rose through the ranks of organized crime. In 1957, Vito Genovese even ordered the assassination of Frank Costello, without success however.
Artistic reunion
Wise Guys is written by Nicholas Pileggi, author and journalist who had his heyday in the 1990s by writing the screenplays for two cult gangster films directed by Martin Scorsese, Freedmen (Goodfellas) et Casino. These feature films starring Robert De Niro are also inspired by historical facts.
The film, whose release date is not yet known, will be directed by Barry Levinson, another artist who has collaborated with Robert De Niro. The 80-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker has directed the actor in three films – Sleepers, men of influence (Wag the Dog) et What is happening to me? (What Just Happened?) – and a TV movie, The Wizard of Lies.
Finally, Wise Guys will be produced by 91-year-old Hollywood heavyweight Irwin Winkler who worked with Robert De Niro on the films New York, New York, Raging Bull, Freedmen et The Irishmanall directed by Martin Scorsese.
