‘Raging Bull II’ Starts Production

A film production is like a a train: it builds up steam, and once it gets going it's hard to stop. So unless an act of God happens, 'Raging Bull II' is going to be made. Production started today.

Variety reports that cameras are rolling on the film, which features John Forsythe as the elderly Jake La Motta and with newcomer Mojean Aria playing the boxer in flashbacks. The film has a direct-to-video cast that includes Joe Mantegna, Tom Sizemore, Penelope Ann Miller, Natasha Henstridge, Alicia Witt, Ray Wise, Harry Hamlin, Bill Bellamy and James Russo. It's being directed by Martin Guigui, who also helmed last year's 'Beneath the Darkness.'

We were hoping this would never happen, but the rights to La Motta's life were likely cheap enough, and the name brand is surely enough for the investors to get their money back. To be fair, if it hits Netflix instant, it's hard to deny curiosity wouldn't lead us to watch it for at least a couple minutes.

If it works, perhaps we'll see more. Though Martin Scorsese classics like 'Mean Streets' and 'Taxi Driver' are untouchable for this sort of filmmaking, it's possible that Henry Hill, may he rest in peace, could have sold more of his life story, and we could see a 'Goodfellas II.' It's also possible that someone could make a prequel like 'The First Temptation of Christ.'