Director Martin Scorcese has the dubious distinction of directing two pictures that were robbed of the Best Picture Oscar and the Best Director Oscar. One was 1990's Goodfellas, the other was 1980's Raging Bull. Raging Bull is hands down one of the best boxing movies every made. The gripping emotional character study of boxer Jake Lamotta was the anti-Rocky and won Robert DeNiro the Academy Award for Best Actor.
And now this news.
According to "Moviehole" not only is a script for prequel/sequel Raging Bull II (based on Chris Anderson, Jake Lamotta, and Sharon McGehee's book "Raging Bull II: The Continuing Story of Jake Lamotta") ready to go but they are already casting people with principal photography to start this summer.
Veteran actor William Forsythe (Raising Arizona, The Rock, and HBO's "Boardwalk Empire) will play the aged Lamotta while Argentinian Martin Guigui will sit in the director's chair. Guigui is also looking for actors to fill the roles of the young Jake Lamotta, Guissepe Lamotta Jake's father, and Ricky Rosselli Jake's best friend as a kid, among others.
Now I'll be honest I haven't read the followup book and the idea of fleshing out some of the unknown areas of Jake Lamotta's past are intriguing. Having said that I think this a mistake of colossal proportions. This is the equivalent of doing a sequel to Citizen Kane or On the Waterfront. I just don't see this film working on any level.
Director Martin Scorcese and actor Robert DeNiro are currently not involved. Thank God for small favors I guess.
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