AMC has experienced success with both original ideas (Mad Men, Breaking Bad) and with adaptations from graphic novels (The Walking Dead) and international TV shows (The Killing) and it looks like the network is opting for the adaptation option with the development of a Goodfellas TV series.
Deadline exclusively reports that original screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi is on board to co-write the project. This is a story that is close to Pileggi's heart as the film was based on his non-fiction book Wiseguy. The project will be co-written with Jorge Zamacona (Homicide: Life on the Street) and will see the film's original producers Irwin and David Winkler performing the same role on the TV adaptation. Director Martin Scorsese is not attached to this new version of his hit film.
Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Lorraine Bracco starred in the 1990 critical hit and Goodfellas received six Oscar nominations that included Best Picture and director. Joe Pesci walked away with the best supporting actor statue for his terrifying performance of Tommy DeVitto that included the memorable "I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown?" scene.
The film spans from 1955-1980 and tells the story of the rise and fall of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), an associate of the Lucchese crime family. This 25 year time period gives a TV adaptation quite a lot to play with and the appeal for revisiting this source material is understandable from this perspective. The success of other mob related projects such as The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire (the pilot of this was directed by Scorsese) shows that there is an audience for this genre and both of these shows undoubtedly owe a debt to this film.
Nicholas Pileggi also has another project in the works over at CBS; a 1960s drama Ralph Lamb which is based on the true story of a Las Vegas Sheriff by the same name, who was previously a cowboy.
What are your thoughts on this adaptation? Has AMC got another hit? Let us know who you would cast as Henry Hill?
