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Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro May Paint Houses

The terrific twosome of director Martin Scorsese and his favorite leading man Robert De Niro may reunite for another round in I Heard You Paint Houses, a mob drama for Paramount Pictures. The film will be based on Charles Brandt's 2004 book about a mob hitman who many believe was involved in the mysterious, still-unsolved death of Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa. The book and film's title refers to mobster jargon for contract killings and how blood splatters on walls and floors after a murder.

Scorsese is attached to direct the film, with De Niro on board to portray Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran, the assassin reported to have pulled off more than 25 murders for the mob. Scorsese will produce alongside De Niro and his Tribeca partner Jane Rosenthal.

Brandt befriended Sheeran before his death in 2003. Apparently, Sheeran confessed several crimes to Brandt, including the 1975 killing and dismembering of Hoffa. Writer/director Steve Zaillian will write the screenplay.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
10.02.08