Streaming giant Netflix has purchased the worldwide rights to Martin Scorsese’s crime drama, The Irishman.
The long gestating movie which is to see the iconic director once again team up with Robert De Niro as the film’s star, will be the pair’s ninth collaboration together.
Working on such iconic movies as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas, it’s easy to see why Netflix would want to jump on board the project which has been in development since 2008 at Paramount.
Steve Zaillian has written the script for The Irishman, based on the 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. The book centres on the exploits of the hitman and gangster Frank ‘The Irishman’ Sheeran.
Scorsese’s latest film Silence, while enjoying much love in certain circles, has failed to impress at the box office. He will be looking for a commercial return to form with The Irishman which starts production later this year.
Originally published February 22, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
