Sylvester Stallone is set to join Talia Shire in the ranks of the mob in what will be his first starring television series.
Sly is currently finalizing a deal to star as the mafia chief central to the storyline of Mario Puzo’s “Omerta”, the final book in “The Godfather” author’s beloved mob series. “Omerta” was published in 2000, a year after Puzo’s death, and received mixed reviews from literary critics at the time.
We’re speculating that Stallone will take the role of head of the family, Don Aprile, who shepherds his favorite adopted “nephew”, Astorre Viola. If the television adaptation follows the novel’s storyline, Sly should have a prominent role at least halfway through the series.
It’ll be cool to see Sylvester Stallone as part of Mario Puzo’s “Godfather” family, now trivia buffs can say that both Rocky and Adrian are part of Puzo’s famous series. Talia Shire has nothing to do with the “Omerta” project, but she last appeared as Connie Corleone in The Godfather: Part III back in 1990 while she was simultaneously filming Rocky V.
A television network has yet to be named for “Omerta”, although Stallone is currently working with NBC as a producer on the reality fitness series STRONG (which hasn’t done so well in the ratings.) The project will also be presented to cable and streaming services, so no news yet on exactly where the TV series will premiere.
Sources close to the project suggest that the series could begin filming as early as this summer.
