Three-time Oscar winning production designer Dante Ferretti spoke to Variety an interview (via ThePlaylist). Ferretti is mostly known for his consistent working relationship with director Martin Scorsese since 1995’s Casino. They most recently worked together on the Japan-set Silence set for release on December 23rd.
At the very end of the Variety interview, Dante teased the potential production start date on Martin’s next film The Irishman.
“We’ve talked about it; but we still have to see when and how it will be shot. I never say ‘I’m doing to do this or that’ until it’s signed. Theoretically we’ve talked about shooting this film next year in February or March.”
The gangster film would finally reunite Robert De Niro and Al Pacino as co-leads, in a project fitting the legendary actors. Previously, they they shared a small amount of scenes in Michael Mann’s cops-and-robbers masterpiece Heat. While both starred in Godfather: Part 2, they never shot scenes together due to Robert playing a younger version of Al’s father. The less said about the horrid Righteous Kill the better.
Based on the book “I Heard You Paint Houses” by Charles Brandt, and tells the true story of Frank Sheeran, a WWII veteran who led a colorful life as a high-ranking officer in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters while also dabbling in organized crime as a highly-sought-after hitman, with rumored ties to the deaths of President Kennedy and Jimmy Hoffa.
Mean Streets and Taxi Driver‘s Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) is said to have a role in the film as well. Harvey hasn’t worked with Martin since The Last Temptation of Christ.
Joe Pesci was once attached as well, but has since dropped-out. I wouldn’t be terribly shocked to see Steve Buscemi takeover his role. After all, Martin produced Steve’s gangster series Boardwalk Empire and we do expect to see some Sopranos alum.
I’m also kind rooting to see actor Aidan Gillen (Shadow Dancer, The Wire, Calvary, Game of Thrones) land a role.
It’s expected that the film would have a release date in December 2018.
SOURCE: VARIETY