Joe Pesci - Joe Pesci Sues Producers For $3 Million After Weight Gain

The actor claims Fiore Films used his name to promote their project but never intended to offer him the prominent role of Angelo Ruggiero, a trusted advisor to crime-lord Gotti Sr. Company CEO Marc Fiore created a considerable buzz when he announced the Goodfellas star for the project earlier this year, however, Pesci's lawyer claims his client was later offered a lesser role on a reduced salary of $1 million. According to the legal documents, the actor had also gained 30lbs in weight to prepare for the role of Ruggiero, who died in prison back in 2002. In response to the claims, Mark Fiore claimed Pesci walked away from the project following the departure of original director Nick Cassavetes. The biopic starring John Travolta, Al Pacino and Kelly Preston, is now being shot by Oscar-winner Barry Levinson.

The movie is scheduled to begin shooting in New York in January 2012, although the supporting role of John Gotti Jr is still yet to be cast. Preproduction will begin in September 2011.