De Niro returning to the mob

The 'Goodfellas' star is in talks to play a Mafia hit man in forthcoming film 'The Winter of Frankie Machine'.

Nov 15 2005

In recent years, Robert De Niro has left behind his celluloid gangster past, preferring to work on tame comedies ('Meet the Parents', 'Analyse This') or forgettable thrillers ('Godsend', 'Hide and Seek').

Now however, it looks like the screen legend may return to the genre that made him a star, with talks underway to cast him in 'The Winter of Frankie Machine'.

Based on a soon-to-be-published novel by Don Winslow, the film would see De Niro play the titular Frankie, a former Mafia hit man who leaves the violent industry to run a bait shop.

But when he is targeted for a hit, Machine is forced to dust down his gun and return to the business.

No writer or director is yet in place, but expect 'The Winter of Frankie Machine' to go into production late next year.

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