This just in —Robert CarlyleandJefferson Whitehave joined the cast of theupcoming JFK thriller,November 1963.Carlyle and White are taking on the roles of Jack Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald, respectively, and will be starring alongsideJohn Travolta, Mandy Patinkin,andDermot Mulroney. Directed byRoland Joffé(The Scarlet Letter),November 1963will follow the events surroundingthe assassination of PresidentJohn F. Kennedy.
The film will begin shooting in Canada in Spring 2025, with the script based on firsthand accounts from the Chicago Outfit boss,Sam Giancana,and his family. The Giancanas were one of themost powerful Italian-American criminal organizationsin the U.S. during the 1950s and early 1960s and Sam Giancana, in particular, was known to have connections to the Kennedy family and was involved in John. F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. Giancana’s nephew,Nick Celozzi,serves as a writer and producer for the film and haspromised to offer a fresh perspectiveon the 48 hours surrounding the former President’s assassination.
As per Celozzi, who had a chat with Variety, the script for the film and the “essence of the story” comes from Sam’s brother,Pepe Giancana. The writer revealed that the film will follow his family’s history and theirinvolvement in setting up JFK’s assassinationwith the second shooter. Mind’s Eye Entertainment CEO and PresidentKevin DeWaltalso added how excited he is to bring the“true version” of the harrowing eventto light with this film.
‘November 1963’ Was Originally Supposed To Star Shia LaBeouf
The upcoming thriller wasformerly titled2 Days/1963andAssassinationbefore the producers settled onNovember 1963.The cast was originally supposed to featureCourtney Love, Viggo Mortensen,Shia LaBeouf,Al Pacino,and Travolta. However,things never worked out.
Celozzi revealed that the projecttook on a new lifewhen Giancana’s daughter,Bonnie Giancana,came on board and helped him write the screenplay. The writer revealed that instead of adding his interpretation to the script, he isstaying true to his uncle’s versionof events. Celozzi referred to the film as a “passing down” of his family legacy. He confessed that while there are a lot of theories about who killed the former President, he wantsNovember 1963to set the record straight.
The writer also talked about his experience working with Joffé and called him a “top-notch director.” Celozzi added that when he sent the screenplay to the director, heimmediately understood the vision. Joffé had told the writer that he felt like he was“trapped in a submarine”as he read the script. According to Celozzi, that’s exactly how claustrophobic he wants people to feel when they watch the film.
