John Travolta’s John Gotti biopic suddenly revived with ‘Entourage’ actor Kevin Connolly directing

John Travolta has wanted to make a biopic based on the life of mobster John Gotti for years, but no version of the project has ever gotten off the ground. However, it looks like it could finally happen with financiers jumping on and a new, surprising director picked.

The news was first reported by Deadline, which confirmed that Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, Fiore Films and Herrick Entertainment will finance. Lionsgate Premiere is set to distribute the film in the U.S. through a previously set-up deal with Emmett/Furla/Oasis.

The financiers announced that Kevin Connolly will helm the project. Connolly is best known for playing Eric Murphy in HBO’s Entourage, but he does have some directing credits under his belt. He’s helmed episodes of Entourage and Unhappily Ever After. He also directed 2007’s Gardener of Eden, which starred Lukas Haas.

The story of getting the film, which will be titled Gotti, getting made is as interesting as Gotti’s real life as a New York mobster. It was supposed to start filming in January 2012, with Barry Levinson at the helm and co-starring Ben Foster, Al Pacino and Lindsay Lohan. However, the project was shelved in June 2012, with filming supposed to start in November 2012. That never happened and this week’s report was the first time we’ve heard anything about it since then.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Gotti was written by Leo Rossi and Lem Dobbs. It will follow Gotti’s rise and his relationship with his son, John Angelo Gotti III.

image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com