The Untouchables: Capone Rising

[MacGuffin]

Brian De Palma returns to the scene of the crime
Source: Production Weekly

Brian De Palma is set to direct "The Untouchables: Capone Rising," a prequel to his 1987 hit film about lawman Eliot Ness' takedown of Al Capone. The project is eyeing a June production start. Writing duo Brian Koppelman and David Levien penned the script for "Capone Rising," which charts the Chicago mob boss' rise to power and his relationship with police detective and nemesis Jimmy Malone, the character played in the original film by Sean Connery. The film starts on the eve of Capone's arrival, and while Malone wasn't the most corrupt cop, he operated at a time when every cop was on the take. Once he crosses paths with Capone, he sees a level of violence and criminality that causes him to have a moral awakening. "The Untouchables" was also a 1959-63 TV series starring Robert Stack as Ness. Both the series and the De Palma feature were based on the novel of the same name by Oscar Fraley.

[MacGuffin]

Nicolas Cage Confirmed As Capone In 'Untouchables' Prequel

MTV has confirmed that Nicolas Cage is set to play Chicago crime boss Al Capone in "The Untouchables: Capone Rising."

Cage will reteam with "Snake Eyes" director Brian DePalma for the project, playing a younger version of the character made famous by Robert DeNiro. "Capone Rising" is a prequel to DePalma's 1987 classic "The Untouchables," and will revolve around the early dealings between Capone and Irish cop Jimmy Malone, a role that garnered an Oscar for Sean Connery.

Principal photography on the high-profile flick will begin in October, some 21 years after its predecessor was filmed. No word yet on whether the temporary "Capone Rising" title will be scrapped, following the chilly reponse audiences gave to February's "Hannibal Rising" prequel.

Based on the classic 50's/60's TV drama, "The Untouchables" was a box-office and critical smash that announced Kevin Costner as a leading man, re-launched the career of Connery, and showed the world that you should never turn your back on DeNiro when he's holding a baseball bat. Rumors continue to swirl that Sean Penn or Colin Farrell will be cast as the younger Connery, discussions that seem far more credible now that Cage has decided to pull a gun instead of a knife, and send doubters to the morgue rather than the hospital.

Because that, as he now knows, is the Chicago way.

[MacGuffin]

Gerard Butler Joins Untouchables Prequel
Source: Variety

Gerald Butler (300) will star in Brian De Palma's The Untouchables: Capone Rising, reports Variety.

He joins Nicolas Cage, who will play a younger version of Al Capone, the character made famous by Robert De Niro. "Capone Rising" is a prequel to De Palma's 1987 classic The Untouchables, and will revolve around the early dealings between Capone and Irish cop Jimmy Malone, a role that garnered an Oscar for Sean Connery.

Principal photography will begin in October.

[grand theft sparrow]

Guess I'm not the only one who was reminded of Connery when watching 300.  Good casting for an otherwise shit idea. 

And Gerard Butler looks like he's going to be to unnecessary prequels what Hugh Jackman is to movies that higher paid actors have dropped out of.

[MacGuffin]

'Untouchables' prequel Cage-less
Actor cites scheduling issues
Source: Variety

If Brian De Palma moves ahead with prequel "The Untouchables: Capone Rising," it will be sans Nicolas Cage.

Cage had been in negotiations to star in the follow-up, but talks have ended because of scheduling issues, according to his reps.

Relativity Media is financing the pic, while Paramount has domestic distrib rights. Art Linson, who produced De Palma's 1987 pic "The Untouchables," is producing the prequel as well.

In Cannes last week, Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh announced that Gerard Butler has joined the cast.

Butler ("300") is set for the part of Jimmy Malone, played by Sean Connery in the original. Cage would have played the young Al Capone.

Cage is presently shooting "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," which opens in December. He hasn't said what his next movie will be after that.

[MacGuffin]

DePalma Promises New 'Untouchables' Will Have Same Classic Score And Locations
Source: MTV

"You're nothing but a lot of talk and a badge!" Those were the last words we heard from Al Capone in Brian DePalma's insanely entertaining "The Untouchables" some twenty years ago. Well, just because Elliot Ness put Al behind bars to the swelling score of Ennio Morricone so long ago, the battle for Chicago has just begun.

Brian DePalma himself told me last week that "The Untouchables: Capone Rising" is likely to be his next film. This prequel will detail in DePalma's words, "[Jimmy Malone]'s relationship with Capone during Capone's rise." Portraying the former character that earned Sean Connery an Oscar is Gerard Butler, Deplama confirmed. "Gerry is still with us," he said.

The young Capone, however, remains uncast. Nicolas Cage was attached but is no longer on board. DePalma is on the lookout, though. What does the new Capone need? "You've got to have that street animal sexuality," he said.

For those worried that this new film won't fit in with the first now classic "Untouchables," rest easy. DePalma plans to keep it consistent, "I would like to use a lot of the original music from 'The Untouchables,' and the original locations in Chicago."

And what about a typical showy DePalma set piece to rival the shootout in the train station? The director promises, "It's got a lot of fabulous set pieces in it. It will be a lot of fun to do."