“The Bear” series creator Christopher Storer is set to direct the very long-gestating film adaptation of Don Winslow’s 2006 novel “The Winter Of Frankie Machine” at Paramount Pictures.
William Friedkin, Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann have all previously been attached to direct the film at one point or another. Scorsese’s came the closest to happening before he and De Niro exited in favour of another hitman tale – a project that eventually became 2019’s “The Irishman”.
Storer will reportedly go back to using the script draft from “Billions” creators Brian Koppelman & David Levien who worked on the project back when it was going to be a Scorsese/De Niro effort.
The story follows Frank Machianno, a mob hitman who has retired to run a bait shop. He agrees to help the son of a mob boss resolve a dispute with another Mafioso but is forced to turn into Frankie Machine again when he realizes he’s been set up to be killed.
The deal was reportedly made before the WGA strike and both Shane Salerno and The Story Factory will produce. The news comes as the recently released second season of “The Bear” turned in Hulu’s highest-ever ratings.
Source: Variety
