Former Providence mayor Buddy Cianci -- who is slated to resume his career as a talk-show host this Thursday -- says he has been in talks with Robert De Niro's Tribeca Films about a possible movie deal. The revelation comes in an interview that will be published in this week's Phoenix.
When asked about the Michael Corrente-helmed movie to be based on Mike Stanton's The Prince of Providence, Cianci tells interviewer Joe Vileno, a former aide, "They have been talking about that for years and nothing seems to be happening . . . Who knows if the movie will ever be made?"
Cianci goes on to say this:
I have nothing to do with Michael Corrente or with any movie about me with him. I am in discussions with Tribeca Films, which Robert De Niro founded, which has made overtures to me, as they are interested in making a film of my career and will also involve a major Hollywood studio. I am now awaiting further talks.
As far as who will play me, there is no particular one in mind now,. I like De Niro and Paul Giamatti, too. I knew his father [Bart Giamatti, the late former Yale University president and Major League Baseball commissioner.] I met him at a conference at Yale.