The Irishman Information

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.

Plot

Frank Sheeran, a labor union official with mob connections, recalls his involvement in the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa, an American labor union leader.

Cast

• 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
• 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

Production

Development

Martin Scorsese has long been attached to direct 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 will write the script.

In May 2016, it was announced that the film's rights would be offered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, while Mexican financier/producer Fbrica 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.

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 turned down his offer 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 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. The "?real"? story of the man who murdered Jimmy Hoffa. New York Post, November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.</ref> 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 Fbrica 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 the Mexican financer, 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 impending visual effects needed to make De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino appear up to 30 years younger at various points throughout the film.