Monday, June 8, 2026

Scooped Here July 21: DeNiro, Levinson Will Make “Goodfellas” Companion Movie, “Wise Guys”

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I told you on July 21st.

Barry Levinson will direct “Wise Guys” written by Nick Pileggi based on his famous book. That book was also the basis of Martin Scorsese’s 1990 classic, “Goodfellas.”

Robert De Niro will produce and star in the movie playing two characters: Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried (and failed) to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia.

So all the trade papers reporting “exclusives” today can just forget it.

“Goodfellas” covered just a part of Pileggi’s story. “Wise Guys” is set against a broader picture.

Warner Bros, as I reported on July 21st, will be the studio for this film.

This will be a hot ticket once it’s all cast. See you in 2024.

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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