The Irishman is Martin Scorsese's most expensive film to date
The director's long-gestating mob drama has reportedly gone over budget
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Irishman is set to become the most expensive film Martin Scorsese has ever made.
Production began on the filmmaker's long-gestating mob drama in 2016 with lucrative rights picked up at Cannes Film Festival. Netflix later acquired worldwide rights to the film for a reported $105m setting a budget of $125m.
However, Page Six is reporting that Scorsese has spent $175m and counting on the film - which stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci - after the longest shoot of his career to date surpassing 2012 fantasy Hugo by just one day (106 compared to the latter's 105). This would also make the film his most expensive to date.
According to a source, the chief reason for soaring costs is the CGI required to make 74-year-old De Niro look like he's 30 for scenes set in 1959.
Scorsese or Netflix have not yet responded to comment.
The film also stars Boardwalk Empire alumni Bobby Cannavale, Jack Huston and Stephen Graham who will play Genovese mob boss Tony “Pro” Provenzano - a top associate of Jimmy Hoffa, the character whose mysterious disappearance hands the film its plot. Harvey Keitel and Ray Romano also star.
Interestingly, the film marks the first collaboration between Scorsese and The Godfather actor Pacino but will serve as the tenth time that De Niro has worked with the filmmaker.
The Irishman - Scorsese's first film since religious drama Silence - will be released in 2019.
Follow Independent Culture on Facebook
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments