Gangster Rap

The ace filmmaker,on board as the executive producer and creative consultant of HBO’s original series,Boardwalk Empire,directed the pilot episode of the show that chalks the rise and fall of this enigmatic leader. “It’s the charting of this world and the underworld. Also,there is America’s love affair with the gangster as a tragic hero. The story of Nucky has all the elements to make it a great show,” says the Academy Award-winning filmmaker,known for his gangster films such as Goodfellas and Mean Streets.

The 12-episode weekly will premiere in India on June 12 at 7.30 pm on HBO. Conceptualised by Terence Winter of The Sopranos fame,it is actually based on a book by the same name,penned by Nelson Johnson. “We saw the potential of a TV series in the book and approached Scorsese and Terence. Our reputation for cutting-edge original content helped us rope them in for the project,” recollects Shruti Bajpai,country manager,South Asia,HBO.

Winter and Scorsese then roped in Steve Buscemi,best known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and The Sopranos,to play Nucky. “I suggested Steve to Martin who also thought that he was best-suited for the role,” recollects Winter. After over a year of scripting and designing the show,the first season of Boardwalk Empire went on air in the US in September 2010.

With reputed names backing the project,the pilot episode alone attracted a huge viewership. The show went on to win the Golden Globe award for Best Dramatic Series while Buscemi won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series. Following the success,the channel has commissioned the next season,likely to premiere in the US by end of 2011.