Robert De Niro and Al Pacino to Be Digitally De-Aged for Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman'

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are reportedly set for some digital de-aging for Martin Scorsese's new movie.

December 21, 2016

Not Available Lead — Image via Complex Original

The Irishman, Martin Scorsese's long-gestating crime drama based on Charles Brandt's I Heard You Paint Houses, wants to defy space and time. Producer Gastón Pavlovich confirmed Tuesday that Scorsese's team is "still exploring" some Benjamin Button-esque de-aging vibes for stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, Cinema Blendreported.

"Well, it's an extraordinary technology that we've been looking at," Pavlovich said, backing up De Niro's previous comments on the movie that seems to have been in development my entire life. "You don't use prosthetics, make-up, they have acting and the technology is able to have them go through different time ages without the prosthetics. So we've seen some tests and it looks extraordinary."

Pavlovich added that at least one scene utilizing the technology is already in the can. "We were able to film Bob and just do a scene, and we saw it come down to when he was like 20, 40, 60, so we're looking forward to that, from that point of view, for The Irishman ... Imagine seeing what De Niro looked like in The Godfather 2 days, that's pretty much how you're going to see him again," he said Tuesday.

As Deadlinereported back in May, The Irishman has an estimated budget in the $100 million range and will (possibly) also see the legendary Joe Pesci joining De Niro and Pacino for a full-on throwdown. The film is currently on track for a 2018 release. In the meantime, right now is the perfect moment to revisit Louis C.K.'s hilarious AF Pesci story: