Fiore Films, the independent production company behind the upcoming John Gotti Jr biopic issued in a press release that the upcoming project titled Gotti: In The Shadow of my Father will begin production on January 3rd.

Principal photography will be shot on location in New York City, with pre-production to begin in September.

Fiore Films, an independent production company, today announced that “GOTTI: In The Shadow Of My Father” will begin principal photography on-location in New York on January 3, with pre-production starting in September.

Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson and Academy Award-nominated writer James Toback, the same team that made “Bugsy” which earned ten Academy Award nominations, are completing a revised version of the original screenplay. Levinson is set to direct the all-star cast that includes John Travolta, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and Kelly Preston.

Fiore Films expects to announce the casting of John Gotti, Jr., within the next few weeks. There has been much speculation surrounding who will be cast in the co-starring role opposite Travolta. Other roles to be cast include daughter Victoria Gotti.

Fiore Films acquired life rights from John Gotti, Jr., the son of the late mob boss John Gotti, to the story of his life with his father. The deal marks the first time a member of the Gotti family has entered into an agreement to tell their story for a major motion picture.

“GOTTI: In The Shadow Of My Father” reveals the relationship of a father who lived and died by the mob code and a son who chose to leave that world behind and redeem himself. Never before has there been such an inside look at the life of the Gotti family and their world of danger, betrayal and redemption.

Ok, I’m curious about something now… nowhere in that release is there a single mention of Ms. Lindsay Lohan…

She was originally tapped to play Victoria Gotti, but then got the part of Kim Gotti. If she’s not mentioned in the press statement, does that mean she got the boot from the project?

Hmm… food for thought.