To say that Josh Trank has had a rough few years would be an understatement. After breaking out with “Chronicle,” the filmmaker made the leap to the big leagues, landing two blockbuster gigs: directing the “Fantastic Four” reboot, and helming a “Star Wars” spinoff. Unfortunately, things didn’t go well. A combination of studio interference and Trank’s reportedly bad behavior tanked the superhero movie, and the stress of being in the spotlight led the director to exit the “Star Wars” movie. And ever since, Trank has been off the radar, and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that he might want to take a long break before returning to moviemaking. However, he’s dusted himself off, landed an A-list star, and is moving ahead with a very promising-sounding project.
Tom Hardy has signed up to play gangster Al Capone in “Fonzo,” which will be written and directed by Trank. The film will take a unique focus, catching up with the criminal at the age of 47 following nearly a decade of imprisonment as dementia rots Capone’s mind. Past becomes present as harrowing memories of his violent and brutal origins melt into his waking life.
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Not only is this good news for Trank, but also for Hardy, who has been eager to play Capone for a while now. Back in 2012, he was prepping to portray the character in “Cicero,” a planned trilogy that was brewing at Warner Bros. with longtime “Harry Potter” franchise helmer David Yates directing.
“I’ve been working with Warner Bros., watching their gangster films — the ones with James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson,” Hardy said at the time. “The idea isn’t to remake those films but to get a flavour of them as we explore Capone’s career as a racketeer.”
Well, he’ll finally get to put that preparation to good use. Pre-production is already underway on “Fonzo,” and we’re glad to see Trank back behind the camera and Hardy gearing up for what sounds like a showcase role.
