Michael Pitt (Funny Games) is in final negotiations to star opposite Steve Buscemi in “Boardwalk Empire,” Martin Scorsese’s drama pilot for HBO, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Written by Terrence Winter and to be directed by Scorsese, the project is based on Nelson Johnson’s book, which chronicles the 1920s origins of Atlantic City, N.J.
The story centers on Nucky Johnson (Buscemi), a cunning businessman who runs a liquor distribution ring at the onset of Prohibition, and Jimmy Darmody (Pitt), a young, highly intelligent and ruthless WWI veteran, a low-level flunky for Nucky who wants to quickly climb the ladder.
“Empire” is executive produced by Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Winter.
