Yahoo Lifestyle Antoine Fuqua, Terence Winter to Develop ‘Sammy the Bull’ Gravano Series at FX (EXCLUSIVE)
In a highly competitive situation, a series based on the life of notorious mobster Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano has landed at FX for development, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.
Terence Winter is attached to write the series with Antoine Fuqua onboard to direct, with both also set to executive produce. Nicholas Pileggi (“Goodfellas,” “Casino”), Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment, Billy Malone, and Scott Greenberg and Rick Yorn of LBI Entertainment will also executive produce. FX Productions will produce along with Kapital Entertainment. Kevin Marco will oversee the project on behalf of Kapital.
More from Variety
How 'Shogun' Helped FX Find Its Footing as a Streaming Empire
'Shogun' Co-Creator Justin Marks Inks New Overall Deal at FX
Ethan Hawke, Sterlin Harjo Drama Pilot Picked Up to Series at FX (EXCLUSIVE)
FX declined to comment.
Gravano was previously a made member of the Gambino Family, one of the Five Families of the New York Mafia. He allegedly began his life of organized crime in the 1960s, becoming involved in crimes like racketeering, hijacking, and larceny as well as murder. He was later closely associated with eventual Gambino Family boss John Gotti and worked with Gotti to kill then Gambino boss Paul Castellano. Gravano rose to the rank of underboss under Gotti, but then became a government witness in 1991. With his testimony against Gotti and others in the Gambino Family, he became one of the highest-ranking Mafia members ever to cooperate with the federal government.
Gravano’s life was previously documented in the 1997 book “Underboss” by Peter Maas. He has also given numerous interviews about his life in the Mafia and currently operates his own YouTube channel. His life was also the subject of the TV movie “Witness to the Mob,” with Nicholas Turturro starring as Gravano.
Winter is no stranger to the world of the Mafia, as he was previously a writer and executive producer on the seminal HBO series “The Sopranos.” He won two Emmy Awards for best writing for a drama series for his work on the show. Winter then went on to create the critically-acclaimed HBO period gangster drama “Boardwalk Empire,” which aired for five seasons. He was also an executive producer and showrunner on the Paramount+ mob drama “Tulsa King” starring Sylvester Stallone, but has departed that show in order to work on the “Sammy the Bull” series, according to sources. In film, Winter received an Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay for “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Fuqua is one of the most celebrated directors of his time. After beginning his career in music videos, he went on to direct hit films like “Training Day,” “Shooter,” “Southpaw,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and all three films in “The Equalizer” franchise. He is also an executive producer on the Amazon series “The Terminal List” and it’s upcoming prequel “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf” as well as the Paramount+ series “Mayor of Kingstown.” Up next, he is directing the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” starring Jaafar Jackson.
Winter is repped by CAA, LBI Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Fuqua is repped by LBI Entertainment, WME, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
