Actor Joe Pesci claims he was promised to play the role of a childhood friend and enforcer of crime boss John Gotti Sr in Fiore Films' Gotti. Picture: AP Source: AP
"GOODFELLAS" star Joe Pesci is suing a film studio after he allegedly gained 15 kilograms for a $3 million role in the upcoming Gotti family biopic only to be dropped from the part, TMZ reported today.
Pesci said that Fiore Films encouraged him to state publicly how happy he was to be starring in "Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father" - but then was told he was being pulled from the critical role of Angelo Ruggiero, Gotti's close friend and enforcer.
He was offered a lesser role, playing Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, for the reduced fee of $1 million, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles.
He is suing for $3 million minimum, as well as punitive damages.
Pesci's lawyer claims the 68-year-old actor relied on the contract by assuming the character of Ruggiero in every respect.
"[Pesci] has since ended his very strict and healthy diet and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds (13.5 kg) in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build," the suit said.
However, Marc Fiore, the movie's executive producer, described the lawsuit as "a total joke."
"Nick Cassavetes [the movie's original director] brought Joe Pesci in," Fiore told Radar Online. "When Cassavetes left to do the movie 'Yellow,' Pesci stopped returning my phone calls."
He added, "Barry Levinson was brought on board to be the director. We offered the role of 'Gaspipe' Casso to Joe, and he turned it down. The fact is, Pesci wouldn't return Barry's calls, my calls or our attorney's phone calls."
Fiore continued, "Joe Pesci never had a signed contact for any role in the Gotti movie, period. That is a fact. Why would Joe keep gaining weight after Cassavetes left? That is baffling to me, since that is when he stopped talking to us. I have no idea why he would file this lawsuit."
Fiore said he has not ruled out filing a countersuit against the Oscar-winning actor.
The movie, due to begin shooting next year, will profile the family of notorious mob boss John Gotti, also known as the "Teflon Don." High-profile Hollywood stars - including John Travolta, Al Pacino and Lindsay Lohan - are confirmed to star in the film.
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