We almost didn’t bring you this story, dear readers, because Variety used the headline ‘Jim Sheridan fingers mob boss’, which frankly put the fear of God into us and prevented us from clicking on the link for a good 90 minutes.*
But we’re glad we eventually plucked up the courage, because now we can tell you that, contrary to the hideous mental images that had been racing around our mind unbidden, Sheridan has actually lined up his next film, about the life and mysterious disappearance of Boston mobster and FBI stool pigeon, the unfortunately-named Whitey Bulger.
Sheridan has written a script, along with Nye Heron, based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, by Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill, which chronicles the rise and rise of Bulger from Mob enforcer to boss of the notorious Winter Hill Gang, which counted drug-running and gun trafficking (to the IRA, no less) among its many nefarious activities.
But Bulger’s rise to prominence was assisted by his childhood friend John Connolly, who just happened to be an FBI agent. And yes, Bulger became an informant… until his disappearance 14 years ago, which caused a massive scandal.
Black Mass, if that does remain the name, was first optioned by Miramax a few years back as a potential writing/starring vehicle for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. When that failed to materialise, the project was put on the back burner, and with the success of the Boston Mob-based The Departed, Miramax allowed the rights to expire.
Cue Sheridan and his partners on the project, Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie of CP Prods. (and yesterday’s Steve McQueen biopic announcement). They hope to start production later this year – and we hope to God that nobody will get fingered during the making of this movie.
Then the first thing we read was the word ‘Bulger’. Dear God help us all.