Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – Robert De Niro is going to play a mob boss in a movie. You’re shocked, aren’t you?
The star of such mob classics as The Godfather: Part II, The Untouchables, and Goodfellas is now officially signed on for another mob movie – but this one comes with a comedic twist that could suit De Niro’s recent sensibilities (the sort that have steered him to such schlock as Little Fockers). De Niro will lead the cast of Luc Besson‘s Malavita, in which he will play a “notorious” mob boss who, along with his family, is sent to France as part of the witness protection program (France? Really? My Blue Heaven, this is not). Despite their best attempts at a normal life, the family reverts to old habits (or, as the official press release on this project puts it, ” they soon find themselves handling things the ‘family’ way). You know, like killing people and stuff.
De Niro will be joined by Michelle Pfeiffer as his wife, Dianna Agron as their daughter, John D’Leo as their son, and Tommy Lee Jones as the poor FBI agent tasked with keeping watch on them.
The film is billed as a “comedic actioner,” and is based on Tonino Benacquista‘s amusingly titled book “Badfellas.” And, stop me if you don’t agree here, this actually sounds funny.