The first trailer for The Alto Knights, a new mob drama written by Goodfellas screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi, has been released by Warner Bros. Pictures. Directed by Barry Levinson, the film stars Robert De Niro in a dual role, portraying two real-life mob bosses, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who battled for control of New York City in the 1950s. Pileggi, who wrote the non-fiction book Wiseguy and adapted it into Goodfellas, reunites with De Niro for this highly anticipated crime story.
The trailer highlights the growing feud between Genovese and Costello, once close allies, who become bitter rivals due to jealousy and betrayal. The rivalry escalates when Genovese orders a hit on Costello. Although the assassination attempt leaves Costello injured, he survives and ultimately chooses to retire from the Mafia, leaving Genovese to claim more power.
The cast of The Alto Knights also includes Debra Messing, Cosmo Jarvis, Kathrine Narducci, and Michael Rispoli in supporting roles. The film is the latest collaboration between De Niro and Levinson, who have previously worked together on Wag the Dog, Sleeper, The Wizard of Lies, and What Just Happened. Levinson, known for his work on mob dramas, directed the 1991 film Bugsy, which also depicted Genovese and Costello, though they were played by separate actors.
One of the most striking aspects of The Alto Knights is the decision to cast De Niro in dual roles as both mob bosses. This creative choice has raised questions, as Genovese and Costello were not related and did not share much physical resemblance. While it may initially seem unconventional, the reasoning behind this decision may become clearer when the film is released. Some have compared it to Tom Hardy’s dual role in Legend (2015), where he played twin gangsters Reggie and Ron Kray. However, the circumstances here differ significantly.
De Niro is no stranger to the mob genre, with iconic performances in films such as Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and Goodfellas, as well as Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II. With his long history in the genre and Pileggi’s storytelling expertise, The Alto Knights is shaping up to be a compelling addition to the mob movie canon.
The trailer teases a tense, character-driven exploration of power, betrayal, and loyalty within the Mafia. Fans of De Niro and classic crime dramas are sure to be eager to see how this story unfolds when The Alto Knights arrives in theaters.