Joe Pesci Finally Signs On To THE IRISHMAN

We’ve been hearing about The Irishman for a number of years now, Martin Scorsese’s So I Heard You Paint Houses-based mob movie set to star the trio of Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci, and it’s almost surreal that production finally begins next month. Pesci seemed to be the last piece to that puzzle, having reportedly dropped out back in May, but the Netflix project appears to be operating at its exciting optimum with Scorsese/DeNiro’s Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino collaborator having agreed to hop on board.

Deadline reports that Pesci has signed the dotted line after having said no multiple times – a number rumoured to be as high as 50! He’ll play Pennsylvania crime boss Russell Bufalino, long suspected to be involved in the disappearance of Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa (they also report Pacino is still in final negotiations, with the likes of Harvey Keitel and Bobby Cannavale in talks). Rounding off the unprecedented trio is DeNiro’s titular Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, with all three actors are set to be digitally de-aged by the legendary director.

De-aging has rarely looked perfect, but we’ve also seen what happens when you put new technology (like digital 3D) in the hands of someone like Scorsese, who’s now embraced the digital era and uses it to the fullest. Given that he really, really, really wants this specific set of actors rather than casting age-appropriate, one has to assume he has all the right tricks up his sleeve. What is this movie even going to look like?! We’re excited to find out.

The Irishman doesn’t have a release date yet, but you can expect it sometime next year.