Photo: Jennifer Rose Clasen/Warner Bros
We were joined on the Popternative show by Debra Messing (Will & Grace, Smash) who stars alongside Robert De Niro (The Irishman, Goodfellas) in the new mob drama, The Alto Knights.
Directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy), written by Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas, Casino), and produced by Irwin Winkler (Rocky, Goodfellas), De Niro plays two characters, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, with Debra playing Frank’s wife, Bobbie Costello.
The cast also includes Cosmo Jarvis (Warfare, Shōgun), Kathrine Narducci (The Irishman, The Sopranos), Michael Rispoli (The Deuce, Billions), Michael Adler (A Million Miles Away, Peppermint), Ed Amatrudo (Till, Nashville), Joe Bacino (Kick-Ass, Finding Julia), Anthony J. Gallo (Cabrini, The Irishman), Wallace Langham (Ford v Ferrari, CSI), Louis Mustillo (Cooper’s Bar, Mike & Molly), Frank Piccirillo, Matt Servitto (Billions, The Sopranos) and Robert Uricola (Raging Bull).
Inspired by a true story, The Alto Knights follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia forever.
“The story itself was something I didn’t know ahead of time, and this script covers several decades of history. That was different than other mafia films,” Debra tells us.
On being part of a project with an experienced team invovled, Debra says, “It was the Olympic gold winners of a creative team of Bob [De Niro], Barry Levinson, [Nicholas] Pileggi, and Irwin [Winkler]; they are creative legends. To actually see what they did with it once it was all put together – it became something so much bigger, and richer and funnier.”
Watch the full conversation with Debra Messing below.
The Alto Knights is now playing in theaters.
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