The Gambler

THE Gambler film is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1974 remake. Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is taking the lead and hopes to draw in audiences from all backgrounds, whether it’s gaming or not.

The deal with DiCaprio hasn’t been set in stone yet but the 36 year old actor has always taken time out to work with the filmmaker, which gives film goers the hope that he will be the star of the film.

He’s already stared in four of his last five films, starting with 2002’s Gangs of New York. This would be their fifth collaboration if all goes to plan. The director also re-teams with script writer William Monahan, who wrote the Oscar winner The Departed.

The 1974 film, directed by Karel Reisz (The French Lieutenant’s Woman), follows the story of a revered New York English professor who has a secret gambling addiction and gets deeper into debt, taking desperate measures to obtain money.
The role was previously played by James Caan and earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

It was also the first produced screenplay of filmmaker James Toback and an autobiographical take on his own vices. When he heard about the remake, his response was all but happy.

He responded via Deadline and seemed appalled by the “rudeness” and “disrespect” of hearing about a remake secondhand. He took the time to carefully chronicle his personal and professional history with the story; which means it was more than just a movie to him. It was his life first which was then followed by his big break.