In the lawsuit, Pesci claims reps from Fiore Films offered him the critical role of Angelo Ruggiero, Gotti’s close friend and enforcer.  Pesci says he made a deal for $3 million.

But Pesci says after he was lured into making public statements about how happy he was to appear in the movie – which stars John Travolta as John Gotti, Jr. — the producers pulled the deal, claiming Pesci breached the deal by trying to back out.

While that is very interesting and for the courts to decide, Pesci had apparently been so sure of the arrangement that he gained 30 pounds to better represent the stocky Angelo Ruggiero. He alleges in the lawsuit that he “ended his strict and healthy diet” to gain the weight. Poor guy.

This is the first we’ve heard of Pesci’s separation from the project, which is left now with Al Pacino, every human being with the last name “Travolta,” Lindsay Lohan. What a bizarre wrap party that will be.

In the meantime, if you see a rotund gentleman crying into a giant bowl of spaghetti on the side of the road, go ask him for his autograph. It’s probably Joe Pesci.

The Humbling is a film based on a Phillip Roth novel of the same name and will star Pacino as a retired stage actor who moves to upstate New York and takes up with a much younger woman. That’s it. That’s the plot, per Deadline. I mean, if I was Pacino or Levinson, I wouldn’t be in too huge a hurry to make the increasingly bizarre Gotti movie either, but I’m not sure that this new project is that much of an improvement. I mean, there’s not even a single Travolta in The Humbling!

The Humbling starts filming this fall, so dont expect to see Gotti until late 2012 at the earliest. From a glass-is-half-full perspective, perhaps the delay will allow everyone to take a big deep breath and figure out how the hell Lindsay Lohan and Joe Pesci are supposed to share a trailer.

He’s joining John Travolta, Joe Pesci, and if her luck holds out, Lindsay Lohan, with Barry Levinson directing. If you’re having trouble visualizing Pacino playing a gangster, you’ll have to wait until late 2012 to see it happen. Me, I’ll just be watching S1m0ne again. He’s so funny in that.

With enough makeup, I suppose that Kelly Preston could pass for a mob wife, but wasn’t there a simpler solution? Does she fit the role so well that the producers are willing to suffer allegations of nepotism here just so she can get the part?

More to the point, is this an act of nepotism? I’m inclined to think it’s actually not, if only because it’s so egregious that, were it to be, it would completely shred whatever credibility this film has after cycling through directors and playing the Lindsay Lohan hot potato game. If it’s not nepotism, then why the hell did they do this? Dare I ask if Scientology is at play here?

I realize this piece probably raises more questions than it answers in light of this news, but if you thought casting John Travolta as a feared real-life mob boss was a strange decision, then bringing in the rest of his clan will make you scratch your head until it starts to bleed. Which is just gross. (EW)

It appears that Travolta also has a one year-old son named Benjamin. Don’t be surprised if he has a cameo as a baby or a football or something.

Levinson has been less prolific over the past few years, with his last film being the HBO biopic You Don’t Know Jack. However, that trend appears to be ending with news of this film, the horror film The Bay, which is awaiting release, and the political thriller O.K.C. still in development

With John Travolta playing John Gotti, Lindsay Lohan playing his daughter-in-law, and Joe Pesci co-starring as Angelo Ruggiero, it would appear that most of the pieces are in place after the void left in the director’s chair. Principal photography is expected to begin in the fall with a late 2012 release.

I still can’t believe Cassavetes left. He took an oath. (Variety)

The producers of the movie Gotti: Three Generations just aren’t able to handle the supernova star power of Lindsay Lohan. Here’s one of them, Marc Fiore, in a statement:

“We are not talking any further about Lindsay playing Victoria. She is no longer being considered. The talks have stopped. We are going to meet with other people [for the role].”

Well let me tell YOU something, Marc Fiore. It’s your loss. Your loss! Lindsay Lohan doesn’t even want to play a stupid Gotti, so she’s glad that “the various demands of her management team just got out of control.” Glad!

The producers are also looking for a new director, after the previously attached Nick Cassavetes left to do other things. Perhaps he really wants to work with Lohan? The John Travolta-starring movie is scheduled to begin filming in the fall, provided that Lohan’s army of fans don’t riot to prevent this. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Cassavettes’ name lent credibility to the project, which originally perceived by many to feel more like a TV movie of the week, rather than a prestige release. So while his departure certainly creates logistical problems, it would appear that the project is far enough along in development that this shouldn’t serve as a death blow to the project.

The studio hasn’t had time to run through possible replacements, so allow me to suggest one: John Woo. He and Nic Cage made magic in Face/Off. Let them recreate that magic. (Variety)

The producers are also reportedly in talks with someone to play John Gotti, Jr., but aren’t “ready to announce the actor” who’s getting the part. Maybe James Franco? It wouldn’t be unheard of. Nick Cassavetes is directing all the characters shouting at each other from the point of view of Gotti’s son, so it will probably be something approaching a lead role. I hope it is Franco, he needs the work. (ComingSoon)

It all seems to be coming together as Nick Cassavetes has also signed on to direct. An offer went out to James Franco to play John Gotti Jr., but there are no updates on that casting. We’re also not sure who will play the grandsons who starred in the reality series “Growing Up Gotti.” But let’s just assume Fiore has offers out to the cast of”Jersey Shore.” It’s really not that outlandish of an idea when you consider Kim Kardashian is in the running. (Variety)