THE IRISHMAN is one of Martin Scorsese’s many projects he’s had planned over the years which I find myself checking up on from time to time; now it might actually come to fruition, according to star Al Pacino anyway. Obviously this isn’t anything official because Pacino could be full of wishful thinking like the rest of us, but he’s talking about THE IRISHMAN! Scorsese is prepping his long-awaited SILENCE movie next; so let’s hope he’s got his sights set on THE IRISHMAN after that. The movie would join Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and now Bobby Cannavale has been added.
The Steve Zaillian script is based on Charles Brandt's book “I Heard You Paint Houses”, about real-life mob hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran. Sheeran is said to be responsible for over 25 murders, including that of Jimmy Hoffa. Pacino confirmed in a conversation with The Daily Beast that THE IRISHMAN was still on and that Cannavale was cast. When reminded of the fact that this would be his first-ever project with Scorsese he replied “Isn’t that something?”
Cannavale you might remember from Woody Allen’s BLUE JASMINE and his Emmy winning role on the third season of Boardwalk Empire. He’s also currently working on ANT-MAN; busy times for this great actor. The combination of cast and director for THE IRISHMAN is out of this world; I can’t wait to keep on waiting. As for Pacino, the legend has to be tapping his heels these days coming out of the Toronto International Film Festival where he is being lauded for his performances in THE HUMBLING and MANGLEHORN; it’s good to have you back sir.
This is hard one: Scorsese’s Sinatra biopic or the THE IRISHMAN next?