Mann boards De Niro’s Machine

Michael Mann has inked a deal with Paramount Pictures to Frankie Machine– a long gestating star vehicle for Robert De Niro. De Niro with produce through Tribeca with his partner Jane Rosenthal, and screenwriter Alex Tse will do a major overhaul on the script under Mann’s supervision. The project is an adaptation of the Don Winslow novel. “The Winter of Frankie Machine”- concerning an aging hit man who comes out of retirement when he becomes the target of a hit himself.

De Niro initially signed on the project back in December 2005, and for awhile Martin Scorsese was rumored as a possible director. This will mark De Niro’s return to the mob genre- as well as his second collaboration with Mann. The two previously worked together on Heat back in 1995.  

Mann’s a busy guy these days- with the Will Smith vehicle- Empire, also on the books. Like many directors, I imagine Mann’s stockpiling projects due to the inevitable writer’s strike. It remains to be seen which project end up as Mann’s next film- but I definitely think Frankie Machine has the edge. Will Smith’s involved with a whole bunch of projects, and will likely need time to prepare for film as ambitious as Empire. Once De Niro wraps Righteous Kill, his film with Al Pacino (another Heat reunion) it would be easy to see him jump right into Frankie Machine.

Personally- I think Heat was De Niro’s last great film, and I’m glad that he seems to be moving back to drama these days after his extended foray into comedy. He was fine in Meet the Parents/ Fockers, but neither of these films have the staying power of something like Heat. De Niro’s still got a lot of mileage left in him as an actor- and it’s nice to see him pushing himself again.