It’s probably safe to say that “Gangs Of New York” is likely the most divisive movie Martin Scorsese has made over the past decade or so. And it was also seemingly one plagued with rumors that Harvey Weinstein essentially neutered Scorsese’s better (though still flawed) and preferred cut. It’s something the fimmaker would deny, saying the theatrical cut is the one he intended, though back in the day David Poland wrote a rather compelling case that the longer workprint cut was the better movie. But perhaps this latest development will allow Scorsese to give the material another shot.
Miramax and Scorsese are now developing a TV series based on “Gangs Of New York,” with the scope expanding beyond the Five Points, to include the organized crime developing in Chicago and New Orleans during the 1800s as well. So, an even more old timey “Boardwalk Empire“? Certainly there is a lot to dive into. Herbert Asbury‘s fascinating 1928 book “The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld” which inspired the film, is filled with all manner of hoods, crooks, thugs and schemes left untapped and backdrop of the nation at the time in general lends itself to all sorts of dramatic potential. And it should be noted, Asbury wrote similar chronicles about the aforementioned Chicago and New Orleans (in addition to San Francisco) so we wouldn’t be surprised if that source material is informally being used.
It’s all early stages and it’s not clear which network will take it on (though we’re sure HBO, who Scorsese has long worked with, will be very interested). Nor is it certain if characters from the film will be reprised, though we’d wager someone as colorful as Bill The Butcher (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) and important as crucial as Boss Tweed (played by Jim Broadbent) will have to be in there (and good luck to the actors who have to fill those shoes).
So yeah, it’s promising, but as always we’ll have to see how much momentum it has. [Deadline]