With only a few weeks to go before the great Martin Scorsese reveals his new, highly anticipated mobster movie “The Irishman,” Empire (online) debuted some exclusive pictures, showcasing the extreme acting talent Scorsese has at his disposal yet again. From serial collaborators in Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino (although ‘The Irishman’ reunites Scorsese and De Niro for the first time since 1995’s “Casino”) to the likes of the wickedly talented Stephen Graham, Anna Paquin, and Jesse Plemons.
And the ensemble nature of the movie is what the first of the four pictures gives us, as the likes of Plemons (Chuckie O’Brien), De Niro (Frank Sheeran), Pacino (Jimmy Hoffa) and Ray Romano (Bill Bufalino) reportedly stand riddled with shock at the news of JFK’s assassination.
The second of the photos, quite ironically given all the talk surrounding Scorsese’s use of de-aging technology on his main cast, appears to show an aged De Niro chatting with Father Jonathan Morris’ Priest character, no doubt mulling over his past as one of the most feared mob hitmen. Will this possibly confession like scenario be the beginning of the Movie and possibly prompt the retelling of Frank Sheeran’s (De Niro) story?
The final photo offered a first glimpse at the incredible Stephen Graham. Working with Scorsese for the first time since ‘Gangs of New York’ (2002) Graham is probably most known to US audiences through his role as Al Capone on HBO’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’, whilst he was last seen on screen in Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic ‘Rocketman’ in which he played Elton’s first manager Dick James. Here though Empire confirmed Graham’s role as Anthony ‘Tony Pro’ Provenzano, a mobster with the shortest of fuses if rumours are to be believed.
Going toe to toe in a scene with greats like Pesci, Pacino, and De Niro may finally be the exposure Graham needs to take his place amongst Hollywood’s elite.
With a confirmed run time of 3hr 30m, there will be ample opportunity to see some of cinemas finest actors take centre stage once again. Back with a director who has facilitated some of their greatest performances, and in a genre where they all made their name.
‘The Irishman’ will have a limited theatrical run beginning on November 1st, prior to its wider release on Netflix November 27th.