Roland Joffe to Direct THE LEGITIMATE WISEGUY

Roland Joffe is set to direct the independent mobster drama "The Legitimate Wiseguy," according to Variety.

"The Legitimate Wiseguy" is based on the true coming-of-age story of veteran writer/producer Nicholas Celozzi, and centers on his relationship with Tony Spilotro, a mob enforcer who was the inspiration behind Joe Pesci's character of Nicholas "Nicky" Santoro in Martin Scorsese's 1995 film "Casino." Spilotro was murdered in 1986.

"Though Tony and I had a father-son relationship, I was playing checkers while he was playing chess," Celozzi said. "He was always many moves ahead of me."

Celozzi and partner Michael Sportelli founded Monaco Films, which will co-produce "The Legitimate Wiseguy" with financier/developer John Vojtech.

The film will be shot in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Celozzi is a Chicago native and the grandnephew of Chicago crime boss Sam Giancana. He produced the documentary "Momo: The Sam Giancana Story" and "Kickboxer: Vengeance," and exec produced "Kickboxer: Retaliation."

Joffe is an Academy Award nominated director for "The Killing Fields" and "The Mission," which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1986. He also directed "The Scarlet Letter," "The Forgiven," "City of Joy," "Time Traveller," and "There Be Dragons."

Read the original article on Variety.