Martin Scorsese's next movie to be crime thriller starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Leonardo DiCaprio

However, don't expect an Italian mob story from this yet-untitled movie, or even a film set in New York. The logline for the movie is as follows:

In 1960s and ’70s Hawaii, a formidable and charismatic mob boss rises to build the islands’ most powerful criminal empire, waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land.

That's right, Scorsese's next film is a period piece set in Hawaii. Although, the rest of that certainly sounds right up his alley.

To answer your first question: Yes, Leonardo DiCaprio is in the cast. To answer your second: No, Robert De Niro is not. The headliners for this film include Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson. Johnson, whose mother is Samoan, is fitting casting for such a crime thriller, given that both Samoa and Hawaii are within the generally-configured parameters of Polynesia. Beyond that, Johnson is actually the co-author of the yet-to-be-released book that this film is based on. That books other author, the one who is, you know, a full-time author, is Nick Bilton. Bilton is also writing the screenplay for this movie. Hey, it worked when Nicholas Pileggi wrote the script for "Goodfellas."

While this is an intriguing movie, and a chance for Johnson to flex his dramatic acting chops so often left untapped in his movies, it could be more of well-reviewed crowd pleaser than an Oscar play. That is in opposition to "The Irishman" and "Killers of the Flower Moon." Both are notable for earning many Oscar nominations but no wins. Also, both were so expensive that Scorsese had a hard time finding distribution and ended up at Netflix with the former and Apple with the latter. Disney isn't exactly scrounging around for pocket change, but by landing at 20th Century, Scorsese will have a full-throated theatrical release.

Of course, "The Departed," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and even "Shutter Island" were successful, and "The Departed" even won Best Picture. Maybe Scorsese will give 20th Century a successful, riveting Hawaiian crime thriller that also rakes in the cash with some Oscar nominations. 

(h/t Variety)