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Martin Scorsese has officially convinced Joe Pesci to return to the silver screen alongside Robert De Niro for his next film The Irishman Goodfellas reunion everybody was wanting.
Al Pacino will also star in the film marking The Godfather actor's first collaboration with Scorsese. It'll be the tenth time that De Niro has worked with the filmmaker.
Production began on Scorsese's long-gestating mob drama last year with lucrative rights picked up at Cannes Film Festival. It was recently reported that Netflix had impressively acquired worldwide rights to the film and that, to qualify for Oscar recognition, it would receive a small theatrical release.
Doubt has long been cast over Pesci's involvement in the project after it was reported that the actor had “repeatedly told Scorsese no” (reports suggest 50 times) but the news was semi-confirmed by the director's long-time editor Thelma Schoonmaker earlier this month, but now the Home Alone star's deal has been finalised.
It'll be his fourth time working with the filmmaker following Raging Bull , Goodfellas and Casino . He will play Pennsylvanian Mafia boss Russell Bufalino, a key suspect in the disappearance of mobster Jimmy Hoffa.
Show all 39 1 /39Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Lorraine Bracco as Dr Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Lorraine Bracco as Karen Hill in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Michael Imperioli as Spider in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tobin Bell as Major Zwingli in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tobin Bell as a parole officer in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Sirico as Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Sirico as Tony Stacks in Goodfellas
Copyright © 1990 Warner Bros. Inc. Credit: © 1990 Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Pyxurz.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Vincent as Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Vincent as Billy Batts in Goodfellas
Copyright © 1990 Warner Bros. Inc. Credit: © 1990 Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Pyxurz.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Vincent Pastore as Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Vincent Pastore as Man with Coatrack in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Suzanne Shepherd as Mary DeAngelis (Carm's mother) in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Suzanne Shepherd as Karen's Mother in Goodfellas
Copyright © 1990 Warner Bros. Inc. Credit: © 1990 Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Pyxurz.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Albanese as Uncle Pat Blundetto in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Albanese as Mob Lawyer in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Darrow as Larry Boy Barese in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Darrow as Sonny Bunz in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Lip as Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Tony Lip as Frankie The Wop in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Pellegrino as Bureau Chief Frank Cubitoso in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Pellegrino as Johnny Dio in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Chuck Low as Shlomo Teittleman in The Sopranos
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Chuck Low as Morris Kessler in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Paul Herman as Beansie Gaeta in The Sopranos. Was also Dealer in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Nicole Burdette as Barbara Soprano Giglione in The Sopranos. Was also Carbone's Girlfriend in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Marianne Leone as Joanne Moltisanti in The Sopranos. Was also Tuddy's Wife in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Daniel P. Conte as Faustino 'Doc' Santoro in The Sopranos. Was also Dr. Dan in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts John 'Cha Cha' Ciarcia as Albie Cianflone in The Sopranos. Was also Batts' Crew #1 in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Angela Pietropinto as Helen Barone in The Sopranos. Was also Cicero's Wife in Goodfellas.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Susan Varon as Susan in Goodfellas. Was also Joan Gillespie in The Sopranos.
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Frank Adonis was Guest #1 in The Sopranos and Anthony Stabile in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Nancy Cassaro was Joanne Moltisanti in The Sopranos and Joe Buddha's Wife in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Victor Collichio was Joe in The Sopranos and in Henry's 60's crew in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Anthoy Alessandro was a waiter in The Sopranos and in Henry's 60's crew in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Gaetano LoGiudice was Bada Bing Patron in The Sopranos and in Herny's 60s Crew in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Vito Antuofermo was Bobby Zanone in The Sopranos and Prizefighter in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Gene Canfield was Police Officer in The Sopranos and Prison Guard in Booth in Goodfellas
Actors in both The Sopranos and Goodfellas and their parts Anthony Caso was Martin Scorsese in The Sopranos and Truck Hijacker in Goodfellas
Harvey Keitel and Bobby Cannavale are also in talks to join the cast before the ilm begins shooting in New York next month, Deadline
The Irishman - also referred to as I Heard You Paint Houses (mob slang for contract killings - the 'paint' being blood) - is based on the book by Charles Brandt which follows the “biggest mob hit in history.“ De Niro's role will be that of notorious mobster Frank 'The Irishman' Sheeran.
Scorsese is also currently working on an adaptation of The Devil in the White City
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