It looks like there’s a chance that Steve Buscemi may be taking a role in the new HBO pilot. Based on what’s being reported, Buscemi is in talks to star in Boardwalk Empire. The pilot is written by Terrence Winter and will be directed by Martin Scorsese. That’s not the only casting news that’s been posted about the potential series today.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kelly Macdonald is also in talks for a co-starring role in the project, which is an adaptation of a book by Nelson Johnson’s and centers on the origins of Atlantic City, NJ back in the 1920’s. You may remember Macdonald from her part in Trainspotting or more recently, for playing the role of Paige Marshall in the film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke. If the deal gets sealed for Macdonald to co-star in Empire, she’ll be playing the role of Margaret, an Irish immigrant who got married to the wrong guy in an attempt to get out of her parents’ house. Macdonald is Scottish and has proven her skill at fake-American accents so it’s doubtful she’ll have all that much trouble with an Irish accent.
Buscemi (Fargo, The Sopranos) is up for the lead role of Nucky Johnson, a sly businessman who runs a liquor distribution ring. Since the story takes place that the onset of Prohibition, I’m guessing this means Nucky isn’t a man to follow the lay of the law. I haven’t read the book but I’m wondering if Buscemi’s character is going to be sort of a bad-guy. Buscemi excels at comedy but he can definitely pull off the creepy-dangerous thing too. It should be interesting to see what he does with the character if he gets the part.
