If you were to think of a list of the best actors of all time who have portrayed gangsters, Robert De Niro would be somewhere near the top. Some of the legendary actor’s best roles have been in mafia films and the 80-year-old is set to continue that trend.
De Niro is due to star in a new mafia offering called Alto Knights, in which he’ll play two characters. The picture is written by Nicholas Pileggi and has the potential to be an excellent entry to the genre.
Mafia Themes are Hugely Popular in the Mainstream
De Niro played a huge part in making the mafia genre what it is today, and it has spread out into various areas of mainstream entertainment. Its presence in the booming online casino market highlights how popular it is among modern audiences.
When online casino betting at Paddy Power, players have access to titles such as Mafia Gold. It’s clear that the games act as a major draw to players, as they are listed prominently on the slots pages. Many of these games draw inspiration from classic gangster movies, such as the ones that De Niro starred in.
The mafia genre has remained strong in film and television over the years as well. There have been plenty of excellent modern offerings that have lived up to the classics of old, with the Irishman, Wrath of Man, and The Gentlemen up there with the best of them. The latter was also made into a television series, which was arguably superior to the movie.
De Niro to Take on Dual Role
In an article from Screen Rant, it was confirmed that De Niro will be taking on a dual role in the upcoming gangster flick. The iconic actor will be playing both the main roles of Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who are based on real life figures from the 1950s organized crime scene in the USA.
In the picture, these two figures are bitter rivals, meaning that De Niro will be facing off against himself. The story revolves around a botched hit on Costello that encourages him to give up his mafia ways. Along with De Niro, the picture will also feature Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci, and Cosmo Jarvis.
Screenplay by Nicholas Pileggi
One of the most exciting things about Alto Knights is the fact that it has been written by Pileggi, who is responsible for penning some of the best gangster flicks of all time.
The 91-year-old wrote both the screenplay for Goodfellas and the book upon which it was based. He also penned Casino and served as executive producer on American Gangster and The Irishman. With such an impressive catalog of work, Alto Knights certainly has the potential to be a hit.
According to a report from online movie magazine Collider, Alto Knights is set for release in 2025. It is set to be Barry Levinson’s first return to the gangster genre since Bugsy in 1991 and is likely to be a hit thanks to the mainstream popularity of Mafia themes.
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