Directed by “Wag the Dog” and “Rain Man” filmmaker Barry Levinson and adapted by Nicholas Pileggi, best known for his work as a writer or producer on “Goodfellas,” “Casino” and “The Irishman,” the movie follows De Niro as Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, childhood friends who became two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses.

Behind the camera, James Ashcroft, whose new psychological thriller movie “The Rule of Jenny Pen” arrived in theaters last Friday (March 7), has been tapped to direct, while the novel will be adapted by writers Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer.