Tom Hardy’s Al Capone Film Cicero Might Be A Trilogy
TheDailyMail (via BleedingCool) was able to get quotes from Tom Hardy (Dark Knight Rises, Bronson, Inception) on his prep for his role in Cicero. The film would focus on the rise to power of notorious gangster Al Capone. Capone’s famous life and the Chicago mafia was the inspiration for Scarface, Untouchables, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre , Boardwalk Empire and many others. Back in March, Deadline reported that Harry Potter director David Yates would be directing the project with an old unused script from Walon Green (Wild Bunch, Terminator 2) that was written back in the 70’s for a television series.
“I’ve been working with Warner Bros, watching their gangster films — the ones with James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson. It’s interesting to get them, and a bit of Capone, into the bloodstream. You look at pugnacious James Cagney in The Public Enemy and see how this guy rises up to become a kingpin in Chicago.”
“Hardy told me he will play the Depression-era Chicago crime tsar sometime next year and well into 2014, once he has completed work on a series of movies.”
I love to hear that Tom is watching the classic gangster films since a majority of the contemporary films in the genre don’t seem to match the quality. Tom’s quotes could give the impression that the aim is that Cicero would be the first film in a possible trilogy. WB seems to be resurrecting the gangster period genre with Gangster Squad on the horizon that features L.A. hood Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn).
Hardy is about to start production on Mad Max: Fury Road for Warner Bros. and director George Miller which could push back Cicero’s start until 2013. Fury has been rumored as the beginning of a new slew of films that could lead to sequels and spin-offs. However, there was talk that Charlize Theron’s character could continue the franchise. There has also been talk after the success of Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy the studio behind it is pushing for sequels. I’m not sure how Hardy’s character fits in the books but they’d be smart to bring him back.
Could David Yates Direct The Al Capone Film Cicero?
Deadline also has word that David Yates is interested in directing the Al Capone film Cicero. The film written by Walon Green (Wild Bunch) would be an origin chronicling the early days and rise to power of a young Capone. Yates is best known for directing a large bulk of the Harry Potter films and now that Deathly Hollows Part 2 could be looking for something non-fantasy based to make.
Could Cicero Kill Capone Rising?
Variety just announced Warner Bros. has bought the script for Cicero written by Walon Green (Wild Bunch). It will focus on the origin and rise to power of legendary gangster Al Capone. The project is being compared to classic films like Angels With Dirty Faces and Public Enemy.
It’s the second Capone origin project in development. The other is the Untouchables prequel titled Capone Rising with Brian De Palma returning to direct. Nicolas Cage was set to play Capone but left while Gerard Butler is still attached to play a young Jimmy Malone. It doesn’t look like Rising will start production anytime soon so it’s possible it could get the axe if Cicero get’s fast-tracked.
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