Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, and Taylor Hackford are headed to the Love Ranch.
What’s that, you ask? According to Variety, it’s a based-on-true-events picture that Hackford has had in development for some time. From the article:
Hackford said the drama is inspired by the story of Joe and Sally Conforte, proprietors of the Mustang Ranch, the first legalized house of prostitution in Nevada. Boxer Oscar Bonavena was gunned down at the ranch in 1976, suspected of having an affair with the madam Sally.
Ranch will reunite Hackford — who last directed Ray — with his wife Mirren for the first time since 1985’s White Nights. It will also act as a comeback of sorts for Pesci, who hasn’t taken a major role since Lethal Weapon 4. As Variety reports:
“Joe didn’t have any desire to work, but he was the first person I had in mind to play the husband, this former cab driver who dreamed of making prostitution legal and carved out a tiny county and convinced the local politicians,” Hackford said. “He’s playing the godfather of legalized prostitution, and it convinced Joe to jump back into the fire.”
Hackford will begin filming Love Ranch — from a screenplay by Mark Jacobson — in New Mexico early next year. After completing production, he’ll head to Broadway:
Hackford will complete the movie before making his stage-directing debut on a musical based on the 1992 Steve Martin film “Leap of Faith.” That project is aimed to hit Broadway in spring 2009.
Source: Variety
