David O. Russell attached to J.F.K. conspiracy pic Legacy of Secrecy, possibly with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Years ago, Leonardo DiCaprio announced his plans to adapt LEGACY OF SECRECY, a 2009 book by Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann, which surmised that mob boss Carlos Marcello told FBI informant Jack van Laningham that he ordered the hit on President John F. Kennedy. DiCaprio’s father, George, has been helping to develop the “passion” project with his son and it was confirmed via the real-life van Laningham’s son (still with me?) that the adaptation was being written by SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK director David O. Russell with the intent to direct, presumably when he’s wrapped up with the currently filming AMERICAN HUSTLE.

Van Laningham also stated that they’d met with Robert De Niro to play Marcello and it’s speculated that DiCaprio would play the FBI informant (but not confirmed). The 50th Anniversary of J.F.K.’s assassination is this year and there are already a number of competing projects developing, including Tom Hanks’ PARKLAND and Cate Blanchett’s BLACKBIRD. So, pretty much if you’re a J.F.K. conspiracy theory enthusiast prepare for celluloid heaven.

The prospects of De Niro playing a mob boss with DiCaprio as an FBI informant under the direction of David O. Russell in a political conspiracy pic sounds pretty damn good to me, but until this is all confirmed by reps don’t hold your breath. But, the possibility is certainly enticing.

David O. Russell’s AMERICAN HUSTLE is slated for theaters December 25, 2013. De Niro will next be seen in Luc Besson’s MALEVITA, set to bow on September 20, 2013, and DiCaprio will hit the big screen again with Martin Scorsese’s THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, set for November 15, 2013.