Del Toro, Franco & Shannon Join Competing 'Iceman' Project

by Ethan Anderton
September 30, 2010
Source: Production Weekly

We've known since September of last year that Mickey Rourke would produce and star in The Ice Man, an adaptation of Phil Carlo's book of the same name which chronicles the life of Richard "The Ice Man" Kuklinski, a mafia hit man who murdered more than 200 people. But now there's word of a new biopic on the gangster with the remarkably unique title The Iceman (see what they did there?). Production Weekly reported via Twitter that Ariel Vroman (Rx) is directing and he's rounded up James Franco, Benicio Del Toro and Michael Shannon to star in the film. The question is, which of these fine actors will play The Iceman? Find out below!

The observant eyes of Collider noticed someone in the forums at IMDb going by the name “arielvromen” posted the following in April, “Michael Shannon is The Iceman!!!” While IMDb isn't the source of the most reliable information, there seems to be some corroboration with this new information to confirm that Michael Shannon will play The Iceman. However, one can only assume since Rourke's project is using Phil Carlo's book about the mafia hit man that Vroman is probably using some other source of information for his story. Since no further details are known about the project, only time will tell how this competing project unfolds.

If you're unfamiliar with Richard "The Ice Man" Kuklinski, he a ruthless hit man who had killed at least 50 vagrants before he was 18 years old. In addition, he took care of his victims with a variety of objects including firearms, ice picks, hand grenades, crossbows, chain saws, and a bomb attached to a remote-control toy car. However, apparently his favorite weapon of choice was cyanide solution administered with a nasal-spray bottle in the victim's face. His nickname stems from the fact that he sometimes froze corpses to disguise the time of death.

Now we'll have to wait and see how the race heats up between these competing projects. When Rourke's project was confirmed and officially announced via press release at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, there was no director attached. It would seem that Vroman's attachment to this alternate biopic gives it a certain edge, but it sounds like both will end up getting made sooner or late. Meanwhile, I'm a little more excited about Shannon, a tour de force on-screen, getting a lead role like this. Which one would you prefer?

Filed under Casting, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Xerxex

correct me if I'm wrong. I remember watching the interviews and Kuklinski claimed he tested the cross bow on some random stranger...Kuklinski is a cold man, the only glimmer of emotion the man had was whenever he talked about his family...as a film it could be a tremendous feat to watch on the silver screen, and I for one would love to see Micheal Shannon take on this role.
David

I agree I think Shannon would be amazing for this movie
Jeff Spicoli

benicio failed in the wolfman, james franco can only play stoners.
- Ria
  
  That's your opinion. Anything Benicio does is great to me. He can do no wrong.
vegasdanny

I cant see any of these guys in the role...even though they are talented. Its a hard part to cast....you need someone with the physicality of Kuklinski who was a big guy. Id like to see an unknown (i think back to Eric Bana who knocked it out the park with his first major role in Chopper!).
http://filmstockade.blogspot.com Emerson

I would be so excited to see Michael Shannon in this role. This is something just for him.
eru88

A few months ago I watched the documentary where they interviewed him. It should be a great movie
beavis

#6 - i saw that doc too - it was riveting and disturbing. i think michael shannon is a good choice for the role.
NickMason

Why are they even considering doing this when Mickey Rourke is slated to do the Phillip Carlo book? These are all excellent actors but the one with Rourke sounds like the one that will have the "juice" - Thats the one people will want to see.
jah p

I'm with #4 on this, none of these actors can portray Richard "The Pollack", especially being able to look like him physically! The Iceman stood at least 6'5 and could move like a cat! And he had the ticking sound he made with his teeth! I think Michael Shannon is a good actor, Rourke is way too short unless he's playing one of the Gambinos in the film. But the only actors that would look okay playing the Iceman should be Ray Stevenson, which he is 6'4 and is a menace if he can flip a New York/Jersey accent with a gangster demeanor, or I know this is a long shot, but I think that Brad Garrett, or David Morse could also play him. Last, they should change on of these names to "The Pollack", since that was his name given to him by the mob.

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Del Toro, Franco & Shannon Join Competing 'Iceman' Project