Yahoo News - July 31st, 2000

DiCaprio on wrong side of law for Dream Works

by Eddie Borges and Anita M. Busch

Los Angeles (The Hollywood Reporter) - Leonardo DiCaprio is going on a crime spree.

DiCaprio has found his next picture: Dream Works´ "Catch Me If You Can". The actor agreed late Friday to star in the true-life story of the youngest man ever to make the FBI´s 10 most wanted list.

The actor will segue into "Catch Me" in March 2001, after he completes his turn as a gangster in Martin Scorsese´s "Gangs of New York" for Miramax Films and Initial Entertainment Group.

Gore Verbinski is the frontrunner to direct "Catch Me", but no deal has been yet negotiated. Other directors - including David Fincher - are said to be still circling.

Following a meeting Friday afternoon, sources said there are no foreseen dealbreakers for DiCaprio´s agreement, which is in final negotiations.

Verbinski and DiCaprio met on the project just over a week ago, and the actor has been in serious discussions ever since (HR7/23).

Dream Works´ executives are very high on Verbinski, who directed "Mouse Hount" and is directing the Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt-starrer "The Mexican" for them. It´s not clear who will produce the project.

"Catch Me", scripted by Jeff Nathanson ("Rush Hour"), is based on the memoirs of Frank Abagnale Jr., who from 1964 to 1966 successfully impersonated an airline pilot, an assistant attorney general and a history professor. He also cashed over $6 million in fraudulent checks in 26 foreign countries. After he was captured by the FBI, Abagnale went on to become a consultant to the bureau.

After the director deal closes, the filmmakers will next turn their attention to fill the lead role of the FBI agent, who is key in the cat-and-mouse story.

Dream Works executive Glenn Williamson is overseeing the project.

DiCaprio next begins production on "Gangs of New York" in August in Rome. "Gangs", set during the era of the Tammany Hall political corruption in the 1840´s, traces the history of Irish crime gangs in New York. DiCaprio stars as gangster Amsterdam Vallon, a man who organized gangs in an effort to control the city´s street wars between Italian and Irish immigrants.

Nathanson is repped by UTA´s Andrew Cannava, DiCaprio´s deal is being negotiated by his manager Rick Yorn at Artist´s Management Group and his attorney, Steve Warren.

***

Back to Projects

Back to Mainpage