When in Rome: Ferrara's Tales Finally Underway

Last I heard from Abel Ferrara, his King of New York prequel The Last Crew was postponed indefinitely and he didn't know when he'd be back behind a camera. You can tell how closely we stay in touch: Gregg Goldstein notes this morning that the filmmaker is in Rome shooting his long-delayed strip-club screwball comedy, Go Go Tales:

Ferrara originally was slated to begin principal photography on the project in January 2005, but after distribution rights for several territories were presold, the production never got off the ground. According to a statement from Bellatrix Media, which is producing the project, Italian state film organization Istituto Luce and producer Gam Film filed suit against the director, who then filed a counterclaim against them. The parties settled out of court, with the screenplay rights and Ferrara's services turning over to Bellatrix, owned by Swiss entrepreneur Massimo Gatti.

Yeah, hey: Why don't American producers ever release statements like that? "It pleases [INSERT FOOLHARDY SHINGLE HERE] greatly to embrace this project as it flees court with its storied director holding a grudge against his former producers. We believe this new model stands astride the very pinnacle of innovation and strategy." Whatever -- it works for now, anyway.

Goldstein adds that Ferrara will return to shoot in New York in January with cast Willem Dafoe, Bob Hoskins and Matthew Modine. I'll try to find out more when they reach stateside.

Posted at November 28, 2006 10:06 AM