What is it with these news stories that constantly seem like a late April Fool’s Day joke? First there was Eddie Murphy joining Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in TRIPLETS, then Ashton Kutcher playing Steve Jobs, and now we have a follow-up to Martin Scorsese’s seminal film RAGING BULL. Yep, Movie Hole has a confirmed exclusive that RAGING BULL II is casting as we speak with an eye towards starting production in Los Angeles this summer.
Based on the book Raging Bull II: Continuing the Story of Jake LaMotta by Chris Anderson, Sharon McGehee, and Jake LaMotta (find its Amazon Kindle page here), the movie is meant to serve “as a companion piece to the Martin Scorsese film and is both a prequel and sequel to the events depicted in the latter.” As for who will play the older version of the Jake LaMotta Robert De Niro brought us in the first RAGING BULL? That would be one Mr. William Forsythe (THE ROCK, THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, “Boardwalk Empire” – see his picture below).
Meanwhile, Argentinean director Martin Guigui (BENEATH THE DARKNESS) is scouting even as I write this for:
YOUNG JAKE LAMOTTA
To play 14-20 years old, and already a tough bare knuckles fighter. He takes his father’s frequent beatings without a sound and makes money fighting much bigger opponents in back alley fights set up by his drunken, abusive father. Please submit over 18 to play younger OR emancipated.
GUISSEPE LAMOTTA
Portrays 40s-70s, Jake’s father, a tough-looking Italian man, he’s a mean drunk who handcuffs and beats his son. He sets up the back alley fights with Jake and much older, stronger opponents. Later he refuses to help the grown-up Jake when he asks for money. Late in life, a frail old man, he reconciles with Jake just before his death. STAR NAME ONLY.
RICK ROSSELLI
40s-50s, Jake’s childhood friend “Ricky”, now a tall, glib and charming wise guy type, wearing a very expensive suit. He’s done very well running the factory Jake gave him the money to start when he was champ. Later he produces and directs porn while trying to break into legit movie-making. He’s always got his eye on Jake and manages to find him work, first as a stand-up in seedy clubs, then as a bouncer in a mob-owned strip joint, finally putting him to work with other ex-champs in his legitimate movies. STAR NAME ONLY.
SALLY CARLTON
30-40, Jake’s girlfriend and later his wife and Lisa’s mother. After years of dealing with Jake’s drinking and womanizing, she finds Jesus and takes Lisa with her to Florida, leaving Jake alone in New York. STAR NAME ONLY.
FATHER O’DOULIN
60s, Head Master of the reform school, he tries to force young Jake to fellate him and gets punched in the crotch by Jake. Recognizable names: Great Cameo Role.
RICARDO “RICKY” ROSSELLI
14, Jake’s best friend, arranges more back alley fights and splits the take with Jake. Please submit over 18 to play younger OR emancipated.
STARLET
30-40, aging, yet still sexy, Hollywood movie starlet. From Vienna, she still speaks with a slight accent. She’s furious when Jake won’t sleep with her. Recognizable names: Great Cameo Role.
This is such a surprising development with so many unkown factors that I honestly have no idea what I think about it right now. A great deal of the quality is going to be contingent on who they score for those roles marked “star name only,” but even then there’s no way we’ll really know until a trailer drops. Or at least some pictures. Or something. Anything. There’s also the fact that the review of Martin Guigui’s BENEATH THE DARKNESS over on Arrow In the Head doesn’t have much positive to say about Guigui’s direction or the movie itself, which of course does nothing to encourage me that this prequel-sequel is being given the serious go it deserves.
As always, let us know what you think below.