Skip to main content

Joe Pesci to join Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’

The notion of a mafia movie starring Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino under the direction of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese seems like a genre dream team and that is exactly what the hitman drama The Irishman is turning out to be.

The possibility of Pesci reuniting with De Niro and Scorsese on the latter’s long-developing passion project The Irishman first arose earlier this year, and now all three are reportedly confirmed for the film, with Pacino in final negotiations for a role. Netflix acquired the rights to finance and distribute the film in 2017 and will give it a theatrical run of some sort to qualify the film for the Academy Awards.

Recommended Videos

According to Deadline, Scorsese’s film pulled Pesci out of retirement but he was not an easy sell. The actor who won an Academy Award for his supporting role alongside De Niro in 1990’s Goodfellas reportedly turned down the role around 50 times before finally relenting. Pesci is expected to portray Russell Bufalino, a Mafia boss suspected of having a role in the infamous disappearance of labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa in July 1975.

The Irishman is based on the novel I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, who served as the lawyer for notorious Irish hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran. The story supposedly tells the true story of Hoffa’s disappearance, based on Sheeran’s deathbed confession. Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List, American Gangster) is writing the screenplay for the film.

De Niro is attached to play Sheeran in the film, with Pacino in talks to play Hoffa.

If all the deals are finalized as expected, The Irishman will be Pesci’s fourth project with Scorsese — following Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino — and his seventh project with De Niro. It will also be his first onscreen role in a feature-length film since 2010’s Love Ranch. If Pacino’s deal is finalized, it will be the actor’s first project with Scorsese.

Also reported to be circling roles in the film are Harvey Keitel (Mean Streets, Taxi Driver) and Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire). Keitel, who worked with Scorsese on multiple projects in the past, is expected to take on the role of Philly crime boss Angelo Bruno, while Cannavale is in talks to play “Crazy Joe” Gallo of New York’s Colombo crime family.

Filming on The Irishman is expected to begin in July in and around New York City and continue through December.

Rick Marshall
Former Contributing Editor, Entertainment
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
3 great HBO Max crime dramas you should watch in July 2025
Frances McDormand in Blood Simple.

Although it’s had more than its fair share of branding issues over the years, HBO Max features an impressive library of movies across a wide array of genres. Because it owns decades of Warner Bros. classics, crime is a deep genre on the service.

We’ve pulled together three movies in that genre that are well worth your time. These movies range in decades and styles, but they’re also a reminder of just how many kinds of movies can fit into the brand descriptor of a crime movie. Check them out on HBO Max:

Read more
If you have to watch one Hulu show this July, stream this one
A man holding a gun stares into the eyes of a woman.

Although it doesn’t receive the same attention as Netflix, and it’s now sort of integrated into Disney+, Hulu remains a pretty excellent source for TV, especially for shows oriented toward adults. If you want to watch something on Hulu, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a particular show in mind. 

Thankfully, that’s where we come in. If you’re looking for a Hulu show to watch this July, we’d recommend checking out The Great. This satirical look at the rise of Catherine the Great is well worth checking out, even if it doesn’t sound like the kind of show you’d usually enjoy. Here are three reasons why: 

Read more
3 rom-coms on Netflix you need to watch in July 2025
A woman and a man stand next to each other.

The romance section on Netflix has some heavy hitters in July. What's more romantic than The Notebook? The beautiful drama starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams has not aged one bit. Trust me, crying remains mandatory, especially at the end. Speaking of tears, A Star Is Born will have you riding the entire wave of emotions from start to finish.

While those two movies are undoubtedly charming, they will leave you in a puddle. This article features three rom-coms that should put you in a better mood. Check out our picks and their streaming information below. 

Read more