Talk about ripped from the headlines. The jury has barely given its verdict on a case and a film company is making a movie about it.
Such is the case with Mandalay Pictures’ Mafia Cop. It’s based on the life of Louis Eppolito, a decorated New York ‘tec who was found guilty last Thursday of murdering eight people, attempting to murder two more, money laundering, drug charges and obstruction of justice by an NY court. Along with colleague Steven Caracappa, he’s now facing jail.
Dan Gordon, who wrote Denzel Washington-starring boxing biopic The Hurricane, attended the trial and will pen the script. He’s also basing the story on the detective’s book, Mafia Cop: The Story Of An Honest Cop Whose Family Was The Mob." It’s true – Eppolito is the son of a Mafia man who caused controversy for his kin when he joined the force. Following his retirement, he turned to screenwriting and acting, and had a small role as Fat Andy in Goodfellas. There’s no director attached yet.