NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — John Travolta has already signed on and Lindsay Lohan may be next, but an effort is under way to make sure New York City doesn’t have a starring role in an upcoming John Gotti movie.

Curti Sliwa is spearheading the cause. The founder of the Guardian Angels said he was once targeted by the former Mafia don’s son.

“…To think that he will now be able to profit from his lifetime worth of crimes is beyond the pale.  To add insult to injury (literally in my case), to allow him to use the streets and locations of our fair city to line his blood laden pockets is absolutely unconscionable,” Sliwa wrote in a letter delivered to the mayor’s office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting Thursday morning.

“I will try to organize the victims of the reign of terror of John Gotti Jr. and John Gotti Sr. to seek the usage of the ‘Son Of Sam’ laws to make sure they don’t profit from a movie that I hope will be shot outside of the five boroughs of the city of New York,” Sliwa told 1010 WINS.

Sliwa claims the movie is a “John Gotti Jr. production” and may be an effort to whitewash his family’s criminal history.

Sliwa also said the movie is a glorification of the “murderous reign” of John Gotti Sr.

On Tuesday, Travolta announced that he has signed with Fiore Films to play “The Dapper Don” in the upcoming feature film “Gotti: Three Generations.”

Actor Joe Pesce will co-star in the film as Gotti deputy, Angelo Ruggiero. The role of John “Junior” Gotti has not yet been cast.

Do you think the Gotti movie should be filmed in New York City? Sound off below

Comments (47)
  1. Auracle Smith says:

    Sliwa always struck me as someone desperate to keep himself in the limelight.

  2. Auracle Smith says:

    Sliwa always struck me as a person deperate to keep himself in the limelight.

  3. Jojo Napolitano says:

    i would absolutely love to be in this movie. Gotti was in my family and it would be an honor to be in a movie about my family member

  4. Jayee says:

    Sliwa is such a cry baby get over it

  5. Thor says:

    Curtis is such an over the hill never was never will be…..he will milk this for publicity just like wearing that silly little red hat….Curt go get a real JOB

  6. little star says:

    Sliwa is right. They should film it on a lot in LA or something. It bothers me to see this guy smiling in front of the camera next to Travolta. Why glorify these people?The average person is terified of them.

    1. Rodin says:

      Why “glorify” Sleezwa as if he mattered? One hood’s as good as another.



  8. Vincent Scungilli says:

    How about Danny Devito as Victoria Gotti?

  9. Susan Clark-Crawford says:

    LMAO…it happened in NY it should be filmed in NY.

  10. Anthony says:

    Curtis is mad because he has no part in the film.

  11. 10acjed says:

    You people really care about these stupid mob mivies still?
    This movie is a decade too lat, Goodfellas, Casino, The Sapranos and the great Godfather..
    The original film, Gotti was good enough. Told the story well.. This will bomb big time…

  12. Yay! says:

    I think Martin Lawrence would make a great Junior!

  13. JOE FORD says:


  14. Rodin says:

    There you go with the “liberal/conservative” political hogwash this has nothing to do with except for obsessive ideologues like you.’

    “Would a thug by any other name smell as foul?” A thug is a thug is a thug, whatever its stripe. Sleezewa, ignored, ridiculed and refuted in court, is a thug. Gotti? Him too.

    Get off that high horse. The only ones that get it right here are those who respond to this movie idea with “WHY?”

  15. jagdish says:

    Back in the day, Sliwa and his Angel Army made a difference when the city was a crime ridden place. Media never liked him, but they never like the good guys. He’s done more for the City than anyone posting here.

    1. Rodin says:

      BULL, the “media” fawned all over the thug. That’s how he got that bloated ego and idiotic praise from cretinous sycophants like you.

      1. BROWN says:

        i agree to this disagree! Sliwa did not turn the city around and his red berret followers were all fake ass bruce lee wanna bees waiting to practice their basement karateskills on anyone.

        They did not turn things around in the subways or the city, they only acted as good samaritians wearing the same silly ass outfit. the majority of the time they created problems with people…

        leave it alone…let the movie or the series be made here, what’s done is done.

        Go Gotti family!

        I am not saying that i BELIEVE they did or did not do the things they are accused of doing, but they paid their dues whether it be fighting for their freedom or fighting to save their family.

        Now he accused baby gotti of trying to rub him out, baby gotti was not Sliwas only enemy back then or now; that fool has dozens of individuals that wanted his hed and berret on a platter. Better luck next time.

        I strongly support the making of the movie in NYC.

        Sliwa, dod you really think that your letter to the mayors office will have them say no to millions of dollars being made for NYC, hell no. Be gone your time is up…baby gotti has been tried in the court of law and now we will judge the movie or series in the public arena; until then….go kick rocks you annoying karate kid1

      2. joey says:

        i agree with silwa, any actor who works on this is helping the bad guys,narcissistic sociopaths. kill and then eat a sandwich.making the world worse.

      3. Rodin says:

        Hey, Brownie, WE AGREE!!! I knew all along you couldn’t be all THAT bad.

        The fact is that Sleezwa had ZERO effect on crime in the City. He and his hoods were active in the 70s/80s. Crime didn’t start its decline until the 90s on the ascension of Lord Rudy’s fascist regime. Mind you, I voted for him even while hating his guts.

        It REALLY is time he got rid of that infantile red jacket ad beret and started acting his age. Either that or join the Boy Scouts.

        But seriously, are you black?

      4. Rodin says:

        Joey, you an Angel by any chance? How old are you these days, 50? Grow up.

  16. Betsey says:

    Curtis Sliwa is not what you all seem to think. Back in the late 70s early 80s the Guardian Angels were out there all hours of the night on the subways, etc. and crime was way down. Their presence was a gift to all of us who had to travel late through bad areas. They wore the red so they stood out in a crowd and people knew they could depend on them. They have walked me home to make sure I’m ok when I lived in the Bronx. Too bad you don’t know all this, but he’s right! 100%. Most of you probably weren’t even born then. i say thaks for being there!

    1. Rodin says:

      They were little more than a gang, colors and all. And Mr. Sleezewa thought he was IT and turned into a self-proclaimed power monger without power. What he wants is Sleezewa revisionism, 3 times rejected by the courts.

      The real travesty here is that an organization like CBS would pay attention to ANY of them: Sleezewa, Gotti Jr, Gotti V., John Revolta and loiverly LiLo, losers all.


    2. Jimmy says:

      You are right about that. I was happy to see the Angels walking through the cars in those days. As you say. probably most of the people commenting on this board weren’t around during that dark period of NY City life.

      1. Rodin says:

        I WAS HERE! Were YOU?

        The “Angels” were nothing more than a noisy, rowdy gang of punks, ‘vigilantes’, who were more of a threat than a solution, inciting or exacerbating chaotic confrontations with their shenanigans where there were none, pretty much as publicity hound Sleezwa is still doing today with this contrived controversy. To be honest, I often got off trains they were invading to ‘protect’. They were trouble. I’m amazed they were never (as far as I know) charged at the very least with hooliganism and disruptive behaviour.

        Their contribution to social safety was about as much as Sleezewa’s is now, NONE! Self indulgent clown, dat’s he!

  17. Kevin says:

    I miss Curtis and Kuby…George RIP

  18. Frank says:

    Considering the sorry state of the film business in New York, why would anyone in their right mind NOT want the jobs that this production would offer?
    Clearly, this will not be a cinema classic, but unless Curtis is willing to hire anyone who would otherwise be employed by this production; he should keep his opinions to himself.

  19. Enrique Ayuso says:

    He wants a shoot in the movie thats all he wanted. He is a idiot loud mouth. he is after money.

  20. None of Your Business says:

    I’d like Curtis Sliwa out of New York.

    1. Rodin says:

      I second the motion… and grow up and get rid of the idiotic childish costume.

      1. Gregg says:

        I third the motion to have Curtis move out of New York. Has he and his group actually ever helped crime go down ? I don’t think so !

      2. Rodin says:

        Do the “Angels” even exist anymore? Haven’t seen one since the 80s.

        Has been! Slleezewa’s fate is worse than if he HAD been assassinated as he claimed. It’s oblivion!

  21. Devenio says:


    Kennedy Family
    Bush Family

    Its the American why Curt!

  22. Devenio says:

    Does anyone really care what Curtis thinks?

    1. nyc says:

      Only New York 1. I think crime has gone up since he and his group hit the streets !

  23. Peter says:

    Why don’t this guy shut his mouth. If Curtis want’s this to happen give New Jersey the million in revenue and tell Curtis he owes NYC a million!!!

  24. Rodin says:

    Sleezwa, even more REPULSIVE than Timothy Dolan. Neither should be on the news. They’re irrelevants.

    You trying to spoil my lunch?

    1. BROWN says:

      the pot calling the kettle (black)!

      1. Rodin says:

        Both the kettle an the pot, BROWN, over a series of forums, refuses to answer the simple question, “are you black?”

        Watch IT try to turn this into a debate on race.

    2. BROWN says:

      Robin, this is not a debate, that’s what you like to do; debate and create drama amongst others that speak the truth. Race does not play a roll here, at least not yet…but soon it will begin with the stereotype attitudes, you know..somewhat how you act daily.

      My race is ……..human race!

      1. Rodin says:

        The “human race”?

        “Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil’s pawn. Alone among god’s primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother’s land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death.”


  25. Kathleen says:

    This sounds like a stupid idea for a movie with Travolta and Lohan. It should not be shot at all. Will it show the gory murders and mention the missing innocent neighbor who was kidnapped and killed? Gotti’s love the attention and still seem to have lots of money.

    1. Joe says:

      Uh Kathleen, who exactly is trying to whitewash or show glory in this forum?

      That neighbor was not innocent.

      A pedestrian has the right of way, that includes kids on bicycles. You kill someone’s kid with your car, and it may come back to haunt you.

      That’s not just the Gottis or Howard Beach. That’s Main Street, USA.

      1. Peter says:

        A pedestrian is not on a bicycle,the word is derived from the Latin,on foot,PED.And it was an accident.Should every accident result in the execution of the one who caused it?What sort of religious code do you live by?It’s not Main street,USA.It is Main Street,(insert whichever foreign country you choose,here).

    2. Joe says:


      I don’t care what latin dictionary you choose to bash yourself in the forehead with.

      According to the laws of NY state, children on bicycles are pedestrians with the right of way.

      NYC Law > dead languages.

      1. Kathleen says:

        Joe, that innocent neighbor could have been you or a family member of yours. The boy suddenly rode his bike into the street. The neighbor did not see him or hve time to stop. You are an idiot.

      2. Rodin says:

        How come I don’t see anything about bicycles in this article no matter how many times I reread it/ Am I missing something?

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