Palminteri goes with 'Gotti'

By Adnan Tezer Aug 25, 2011, 18:32 GMT

Chazz Palminteri has joined the cast of the independent film "Gotti: In The Shadow Of My Father."

According to Variety, Marc Fiore is producing through his Fiore Films.

Barry Levinson is directing and rewriting the script.

James Toback will help Levinson polish the script.

Actor-writer Leo Rossi wrote the original screenplay, which will focus on the relationship between John Gotti Sr. and his son John Gotti Jr.

Gotti Sr. was the head of the Gambino crime family and died behind bars in 2002. Gotti Jr. took over the family business for his father and also served time in prison, but was able to evade conviction in four subsequent racketeering trials.

Palminteri, who wrote and starred in 1993's "A Bronx Tale," will play mob boss Paul Castellano.

Palminteri knows the role well, having portrayed Castellano in the 2001 TNT film "Boss of Bosses."

Kelly Preston will play Victoria DiGiorgio, the wife of John Gotti Sr., who will be played by Preston's husband John Travolta.

Their real-life daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, will play the role of their on-screen daughter, Angel Gotti.

Ben Foster will play Gotti Jr.

Lindsay Lohan is currently attached to play Kim Gotti, the wife of John Gotti Jr.

Al Pacino has been cast as Gotti associate Neil Dellacroce.

Joe Pesci, who had been attached to the role of Gotti enforcer Angelo Ruggiero at $3 million, is currently suing Fiore Films.

Pesci claims that when original director Nick Cassavetes left the project and
Levinson took over that Fiore Films allegedly took away the Ruggiero role and offered him the smaller role of Anthony Casso at $1 million.

Pesci says that he gained 30 pounds to play the Ruggiero role.

Shooting will take place in New York on January 3, 2012.