Disney has reportedly won the bidding war forMartin Scorsese’s upcoming gangster movie. Set in Hawaii, the film is set to feature A-list stars including Emily Blunt,Leonardo DiCaprio, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The project has previously been described as a riff onGoodfellas, which will see Johnson play a “ruthless Hawaiian crime boss.” The character is based on a real-life person, reportedly Wilford “Nappy” Pulawa, and is set in the ’60s and ’70s.

PerDeadline’s initial report, withThe Hollywood Reporterproviding additional details,Disney has seemingly won the bidding war for the Scorsese movie. Specifically, Disney’s 20th Century Studios division will produce the project. The full details about whom the studio was competing against in this bid were not revealed, butTHRnoted that the untitled Scorsese film managed to avoid landing on a streaming platform.

The Devil in the White City book cover by Erik Larson

What This Means For Martin Scorsese’s Film

This Is His Second Recent Project To Be Pegged By 20th Century Studios

Thismarks the second upcoming Scorsese project to be tapped by 20th Century Studios. The Disney subsidiary also nabbedThe Devil in the White City, an Erik Larson book adaptation also set tostar DiCaprio. This will create an active working relationship between Scorsese, DiCaprio, and 20th Century that has the potential to greatly benefit both projects. The studio’s acquisition ofThe Devil in the White Cityalso likely helped them win the gangster project.

10 Most Underrated Performances In Martin Scorsese Movies, Ranked

While actors like Robert De Niro received acclaim for their work with Martin Scorsese, this is the tip of the iceberg concerning great performances.

The closure of the bidding war is also a generally good sign of the movie’s progress. Whilethe film still lacks a title and release date, the strong studio backing is the first step in moving forward on the project. Scorsese does have two projects in the works, so it will be interesting to see what Disney and 20th Century end up prioritizing in the production process. But for now, any forward progress is good news for the work that is still very much in the development phase.

10 Most Underrated Performances In Martin Scorsese Movies

Our Take 20th Century Getting This Martin Scorsese Film

He Has Worked With The Group Once Before

This deal will be an exciting return for Scorsese. The director worked with 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) on his 1982 filmThe King of Comedy. Over 40 years and a dozenScorsesefilms have passed since the release, giving the director a fresh chance to work with the studio. The movie’s plot remains incredibly intriguing, and with a strong cast and studio involved, the movie is bound to be a success.

Sandra Bernhard as Masha The King of Comedy (1982)

Headshot Of Martin Scorsese