It's been one of the most hotly-tipped films that Martin Scorsese's been attached to for quite some time, but it looks like The Irishman is finally starting to come together.
Now that Silence is in cinemas and receiving high praise across the board (we gave it four stars, FYI), Scorsese's attention is now focused on getting the long-awaited crime film on the road to the cinema. In a wide-ranging interview with Silence producer Gaston Pavlovich for Collider, the producer teased out a few details about the film.
Pavolich confirmed that CGI will be used to de-age Robert DeNiro as the story is set over several decades, but more pointedly is where Joe Pesci stands in the whole thing. The initial announcement declared that Pacino, DeNiro, Keitel and Pesci would all be working on The Irishman, but that was soon discredited and the last we heard was that Pesci simply wasn't interested and wasn't for turning.
However, according to Pavlovich, there's still hope as Robert DeNiro is talking to Pesci about the film and coaxing him out of retirement. "It’s in his hands now and I know he’s making an effort. There will be a time when we have to start that so I know he’s having those conversations with Joe and still trying to get him on board."
Pesci's in an enviable position, to be honest. He's nothing left to prove, he obviously doesn't need the money and it's really up to him whether he comes back for this or not. Pesci's last film credit was the so-so dramedy Love Ranch, where he starred alongside Helen Mirren. Before that, Pesci had a small role in Robert DeNiro's directorial effort, The Good Shepherd. The Love Ranch was released in 2010 and The Good Shepherd was released in 2006, which meant Pesci didn't appear in a single film for four years and then for six years, which brings us up to date.
In other words, nobody's going to make Joe Pesci do this, but the hope is Robert DeNiro can convince him.
Via Collider
