Martin Scorsese is now eyeing a Goodfellas riff for his next project, and it is set to feature some major stars. Scorsese may be turning 83 years old this year, but that has not stopped him from making popular films. Less than two years ago, Scorsese put out Killers of the Flower Moon, which would go on to be nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. Since the release of Flower Moon, the octagenarian director would go on to announce other projects, including a Leonardo DiCaprio-led adaptation of Devil in the White City.
Per Deadline, Scorsese is looking toward another DiCaprio drama that would feature additional famous cast members. Additional stars in talks include Emily Blunt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The description for the untitled film compares it to Goodfellas, subbing Robert de Niro’s Jimmy the Gent for a “ruthless Hawaiian crime boss.” The film will be written by Nick Bilton and produced by Scorsese, Johnson, DiCaprio, Blunt, and Bilton alongside Danny Garcia, Lisa Frechette, and Rick Yorn.
What This Means For Scorsese & Other Cast Members

The Film Would Be Based On A True Story

The update also provided further details on the plot. The Hawaiian crime boss is based on a real-life person, though it has not been stated who exactly this inspiration is. Likely set in the 1960s and 1970s, the film will focus on a tumultuous time in Hawaii’s history. The character at the fore will help build the island’s biggest criminal empire while “waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land.” It seems likely that Johnson will play this figure, as the movie star is partially of Pacific Islander descent.

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If this project comes to fruition, it would be a big step in the careers of multiple people involved. For one, it would mark another collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, who have worked together on numerous projects already and are already collaborating on Devil in the White City. Furthermore, it would help to establish Johnson as a serious dramatic actor. Though most of his career has been relegated to action and comedy, Johnson is also actively working on A24’s The Smashing Machine. Both that and the pitched Scorsese project are dramas that would expand his profile.
Our Take On This Newest Scorsese Development

Scorsese Is Leaning Into Underrepresented Stories

This project would also continue Scorsese’s more recent focus on underrepresented stories. Though there were debates surrounding its efficacy and use of violence, Killers of the Flower Moon also chronicled a largely untold history related to indigenous Americans. Showing a character fighting to protect ancestral land in the face of threats, this latest Scorsese project would have some thematic overlap with this other project. This is an interesting trend in Scorsese’s career, as his clout allows stories to get told that Hollywood may not otherwise pay much mind to.
Source: Deadline

Martin Scorsese

Birthdate

November 17, 1942

Birthplace

New York City, New York, United States

Professions

Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Film Historian