With news in the last week about numerous luridly nicknamed toughs and wise guys from several New York crime families getting pinched by the Feds and the fuzz (always painful that – ti-boom-tish), you might almost have thought it was the biggest viral marketing stunt in history by executive producer Marc Fiore, who is aiming to get a biopic of legendary Mob boss John Gotti Sr. on the screen. And according to Fiore, John Travolta is now in “serious talks” to play the man.
“We would love to have him,” Fiore tells Entertainment Weekly. “He’s a terrific actor. John Gotti, Sr. — he’s an icon. And so is Travolta. The Gottis have an image already. People know who they are. You can’t just be a good actor, you have to be a great actor who can become John Gotti.”
Yes, playing the man known as the “Teflon Don” will be a challenge, but it’s not like Travolta hasn’t tackled criminal roles before. And it might rescue him from having to do another Wild Hog****s/Old Dog****s-type “comedy.” To play for Gotti’s son, John Gotti Jr., who has been one of the driving forces for the new film, Fiore has talked to several big names, including James Franco, who is likely waaaay too busy to even consider it.
And Fiore’s company also has its eye on a director, with Nick Cassavetes close to a deal to wield the megaphone. If they both sign on, it could be a Face/Off reunion! Though hopefully with less OTT science and overacting.
Nope, Fiore has a much bigger film as his inspiration, and no one can accuse him of not dreaming big: “It’s going to be the new Godfather. It’s a story about a father and a son, but the father happens to be John Gotti Sr.” Hear that, Oscar voters?