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Cincinnati-filmed 'Gotti,' with John Travolta, will premiere at Cannes

Posted at 1:17 PM, May 02, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-02 13:17:13-04

NEW YORK (AP) — The delayed mobster biopic “Gotti,” starring John Travolta, will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Film producers told The Associated Press on Tuesday that “Gotti” will premiere out of competition at Cannes at a special gala screening at the Palais des Festivals on May 15. The Cannes Film Festival begins May 8.

“Gotti” depicts the rise and fall of the notorious Gambino family crime boss John V. Gotti. It’s directed by Kevin Connolly. Crews filmed parts of the film in Greater Cincinnati in 2016. Locations included Finneytown, Over-the-Rhine and inside the Butler County Jail.

During a 2016 interview while in Cincinnati, Connolly said he planned to use the city as a stand-in for 1970s and 1980s New York.  

The movie was supposed to open in December. But just 10 days before its release, distributor Lionsgate sold the film back to its production company. Vertical Entertainment stepped in with a wider release plan set for June 15. Ticketing service MoviePass also invested in the film.

In a statement, Travolta thanked Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux for selecting “Gotti.”