John Gotti to be Played by John Travolta in Upcoming Biopic

Apr 13, 2011, 11:54 by R.E. Christian

John Travolta has been confirmed as the actor who will play the New York crime boss and patriarch John Gotti Sr. in the film "Gotti: Three Generations."

The cast is also rumored to include Joe Pesci and Lindsay Lohan, who attended a news conference for the independent film on Wednesday.

The movie will tell the story of the Gotti family, and specifically how John Gotti gained his nickname the "Teflon Don" as the boss of the Gambino crime family.

John Gotti Sr. avoided authorities for years, but eventually went to prison for murder, racketeering, extortion and tax evasion. He died of cancer while still in prison in 2002 at age 61.

John Gotti Jr. followed in his father's criminal footsteps only to find himself in legal trouble for racketeering. He was able to avoid convictions in four racketeering trials that took place from 2004 to 2009. 

Stuff reports that Travolta, 57, said: "This is probably the most interesting, untold story in this country, and what a character to approach and understand."

He added: "I like the glamour that he has, I like the humor, he entertained the press very well. He charmed them and he charmed his fans. There was mystery about what he was up to."