The Irishman is an upcoming American biographical crime film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian, based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. The film stars Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran, a labor union leader and alleged hitman for the Bufalino crime family, and Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa. Joe Pesci, Anna Paquin, Bobby Cannavale, Harvey Keitel, and Ray Romano also star. It is the ninth feature collaboration between De Niro and Scorsese, the fourth film to star both De Niro and Pacino (following The Godfather Part II, Heat and Righteous Kill) and the first time Pacino has been directed by Scorsese. The film is anticipated to be released by Netflix in 2019.
The Irishman | |
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Directed by | Martin Scorsese |
Produced by |
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Screenplay by | Steven Zaillian |
Based on | I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt |
Starring |
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Music by | Seann Sara Sella |
Cinematography | Rodrigo Prieto |
Edited by | Thelma Schoonmaker |
Production company |
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Distributed by | Netflix |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $175 million |
Screenplay
Frank Sheeran, a labor union official with mob connections, recalls his involvement in the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa, an American labor union leader.
- Robert De Niro as Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran
- Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa
- Joe Pesci as Russell Bufalino
- Anna Paquin as Peggy Sheeran
- Bobby Cannavale as Felix "Skinny Razor" DeTullio
- Sebastian Maniscalco as Joe "Crazy Joe" Gallo
- Ray Romano as Bill Bufalino
- Harvey Keitel as Angelo Bruno
- Stephen Graham as Tony Provenzano
- Domenick Lombardozzi as Anthony Salerno
- Jim Norton as Don Rickles
- Jeremy Luke as Thomas Andretta
- Joseph Russo as Stephen Andretta
- Stephanie Kurtzuba as Irene Sheeran
- Kathrine Narducci as Carrie Bufalino
- Aleksa Palladino as Mary Sheeran
- Jack Huston
- J. C. MacKenzie
- Craig Vincent as Ed Partin
- Gary Basaraba as Frank Fitzsimmons
- Welker White as Josephine Hoffa
- Jesse Plemons as Chuckie O'Brien
- Craig Di Francia
- Action Bronson
- Larry Romano as Phil Testa
- Jake Hoffman as Allen Dorfman
Development
Martin Scorsese has long been interested in directing The Irishman, which would star Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino. In September 2014, Pacino confirmed that the film was in development and that it would be Scorsese's next project after Silence. Bobby Cannavale was also added to the cast. In October 2015, De Niro stated that the film is still happening and may shoot in 2016 with Scorsese confirming that Steven Zaillian would write the script.
Casting
In July 2017, Pesci and Pacino officially joined the cast, with Ray Romano also joining and Bobby Cannavale and Harvey Keitel in final negotiations. Pesci was offered his role a reported 50 times before agreeing to take part. In September 2017, Jack Huston, Stephen Graham, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jeremy Luke, Joseph Russo, Kathrine Narducci, Danny Abeckaser, J. C. MacKenzie, and Craig Vincent joined the cast. In October, Gary Basaraba, Anna Paquin, Welker White, and Jesse Plemons joined the cast of the film. Later, Craig Di Francia and Action Bronson were revealed to have joined the cast.
Writing
In July 2017, Zack Sharf reported that the film's script was adapted by Steven Zaillian to be presented as a series of flashbacks of an older lead character, Frank Sheeran portrayed by Robert De Niro, depicted as recollecting his many criminal activities over several decades: "The Irishman will include flashbacks that span decades, and De Niro is set to play Sheeran in all of them. He'll appear as young as 30 years old."
Principal photography
Filming was set to start in August 2017, in and around New York City. and would continue through December 2017. Principal photography on the film began on September 18, 2017 and continued through March 2018. Filming wrapped on March 5, 2018.
Financing and budget
In May 2016, Mexican financier / producer Fábrica de Cine had offered $100 million to finance the film, and through that deal Paramount Pictures would retain domestic rights. IM Global was also circling to bid for the film's international sales rights. STX Entertainment bought the international distribution rights to the film for $50 million beating out other studios like Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Lionsgate, while Fabrica de Cine closed the deal and Paramount retained its domestic rights.
By February 2017, Paramount Pictures had dropped domestic distribution rights for The Irishman following the announcement that Fabrica de Cine would not be financing the film due to its climbing budget. Netflix then bought the film for $105 million and agreed to finance the film's $125 million budget with a release date set for 2019.
By March 5, 2018, it was also reported the film's budget had ballooned from $125 million to $140 million, due in large part to the visual effects needed to make De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino appear up to 30 years younger at various points throughout the film.