Joe Pesci Sues Gotti Filmmakers Over Plump Role
Jul 28, 2011 01:00 PM
Joe Pesci is fat ... and he's pissed about it.
The Oscar winning actor claims he gained 30 pounds to play capo and John Gotti Sr. pal Angelo Ruggiero in the upcoming biopic Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father. The role was supposed to come with a $3 million pay day, according to E!.
Now Pesci says that after he signed on, Fiore Films swapped his role. Instead of Ruggiero, producers offered him the lesser part of mobster Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, an attempted Gotti killer, and a $1 million paycheck instead.
Naturally, Pesci and his pasta-filled belly are suing the producer, Fiore Films. He filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles stating:
- "Defendant has no intention of paying Pesci $3 million or having him portray Ruggiero in the film. Rather plaintiff secretly planned to use Pesci's name and likeness to promote the film and then to later concoct some pretext for terminating the contract so as to avoid paying plaintiff anything for the substantial publicity and 'buzz' that was generated."
And here we thought Lindsay Lohan was the one used to gain attention.
So does Pesci's lawsuit hold any merit? Find out ... after the jump.
