Frank Costello, Vito Genovese feud

Robert De Niro is partnering again with Nick Pileggi, the screenwriter of “Goodfellas,” to bring another true story about the Italian-American mafia to life. In the initial trailer for “The Alto Knights,” De Niro plays two actual mob bosses from the 1950s, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, amidst their territorial conflict. The official synopsis reveals that although they were once close friends, their growing jealousies and a number of betrayals set them on a lethal path.

Barry Levinson, known for producing “The Sopranos” and “The Wire,” directs the film. He has a history of collaboration with De Niro, having previously worked together on the HBO film “The Wizard of Lies” (2017) and the political satire “Wag the Dog” (1997).

The trailer features De Niro confronting himself, as Costello and Genovese sit opposite one another, threatening to embark on a “very dangerous road.” Frank Costello has been depicted multiple times in film and television, with Paul Sorvino portraying him most recently in the 2019 series “Godfather of Harlem.” Jack Nicholson also took on the role of “Frank Costello” in “The Departed,” although that character was only connected to the real Frank Costello by name.

De Niro takes on dual roles in “The Alto Knights,” co-starring with Debra Messing, Cosmo Jarvis, Kathrine Narducci, Michael Rispoli, Michael Adler, Ed Amatrudo, Joe Bacino, Anthony J. Gallo, Wallace Langham, Louis Mustillo, Frank Piccirillo, Matt Servitto, and Robert Uricola. Among the cast are several actors he previously worked with in “The Irishman” and “Raging Bull.”

Irwin Winkler (“Rocky,” “Goodfellas”), along with Levinson, Jason Sosnoff, Charles Winkler, and David Winkler, is producing the film, while Mike Drake serves as the executive producer.

The biographical crime drama was initially scheduled to be released on November 15, 2024, but due to the strikes, it has been postponed to March 21, 2025.

Besides “The Alto Knights,” De Niro is returning to television with “Zero Day.” This much-awaited limited series on Netflix features a star-studded cast, including Angela Bassett, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens, Gaby Hoffmann, Bill Camp, and Matthew Modine.