Joe Pesci is suing the producers of the upcoming Gotti biopic “Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father” for more than $3 million, after allegedly gaining 30lbs for a role in the film he was told was his….only to be told last minute that he no longer had the part. That kind of sucks!! Details after the jump.
In the lawsuit, Pesci claims reps from Fiore Films offered him the critical role of Angelo Ruggiero, Gotti’s close friend and enforcer. Pesci says he made a deal for $3 million.
But Pesci says after he was lured into making public statements about how happy he was to appear in the movie — which stars John Travolta as John Gotti, Jr. — the producers pulled the deal, claiming Pesci breached the deal by trying to back out.
Pesci claims he was offered a lesser role — playing Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso — for the lesser fee of $1 mil.
But this is the best part. Pesci’s lawyer claims his client relied on the contract by assuming the character of Ruggiero in every respect: “[Pesci] has since ended his very strict and healthy diet, and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build.”
Pesci is suing for $3 million minimum, as well as punitive damages.
