In the last decade Martin Scorsese has found his muse in Leonardo DiCaprio, making four films with the actor since 2002. Though that time period brought Scorsese his first Best Director and Best Picture Oscars, cinema will never forget the impact made when the director was working with Robert De Niro. Making eight feature films together, the pair made some of their greatest films side by side, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino. The two haven't made a film together as an actor and a director since 1995, but now they're getting the old band back together.
Digital Spy has learned that Martin Scorsese will be making The Irishman as his next film, with Robert De Niro as the star. Scorsese delivered the news during a BAFTA's A Life In Pictures Q&A, during which he said that the project is currently looking for financing and could start up some time next year (as though finding money for a Scorsese-De Niro reunion will prove difficult). The project has been in development for a long time, originally titled I Heard You Paint Houses. Based on the book by Charles Brandt, the story is about the life of Frank 'The Irishman' Sheeran, a labor union official with ties to organized crime. Steve Zallian, who wrote Gangs of New York and Cape Fear, is working on the script.
With Little Fockers set to be released next Wednesday, this really couldn't have come at a better time. It's been far too long since we've seen De Niro in a true quality film, and what better way to get his mojo back than to work with the director who made him a star? The only way this news could get better is if the rumors are true that Joe Pesci and Al Pacino turn out to be true as well. This has the potential to be something truly spectacular.
