Penn steps in for Scorsese; “Funny how”?

A little while back we brought you the unconfirmed rumour that producer Art Linson was shopping his script The Comedian – detailing the antics and daily struggles of an aging insult comic – around Tinseltown looking for cast and crew. With the hopes of nabbing Martin Scorsese to direct Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, those reports have since been replaced with the curious news – of Sean Penn stepping into the directors chair (seen above on-set for This Must Be The Place, playing an aging rocker chasing down a Nazi war criminal!?). Penn would then be calling the shots for De Niro who is still attached, but alas Pacino is out.

Linson has an extensive production history with both actor/directors, having produced Penn early on with Fast times at Ridgemont High, various De Niro pieces such as The Untouchables and Heat, as well as working together with both on his ’08 scripted comedy, What Just Happened?

The New York Post reports production will begin in the Big Apple later in the year, however there’s no official word from either camp.

If true – the project co-written by notorious insult comic Jeffrey Ross (known mostly for his work on various celebrity roastings) would see De Niro in the vein of a Don Rickles/Joan Rivers grudge-holding, observational humourist. Ross’s involvement also means we can expect our jaws to drop lower than a kick to the jewels with profanity laced insults the likes of which are seldom caught on the silver-screen. If this project goes ahead expect a ‘hard R’ rating.

Here’s a little example of Ross in action (Warning: NSFW – lots of potty mouth!)

And here’s Penn dealing with ‘funny’: