Phil Carlo, author of the 2006 best-selling novel The Ice Man, thinks actor Mickey Rourke would be "great" at bringing serial-killer-turned-hitman Richard Kuklinski to life in a film based on his novel.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura originally bought the movie rights after the book came out, but Carlo refused to extend Bonaventura's option when he learned the famous movie producer wanted to cast Channing Tatum in the lead role. After Bonaventura's option expired, Carlo met with Rourke and the two men "hit it off beautifully," according to Carlo.
I think Mickey Rourke would really be good. He's got that sense of danger ... it's not Channing Tatum.
[Mickey's] really looking forward to being the Ice Man, and I think he'll do a great job. He's talking about it being his Raging Bull.
Carlo's novel documents how Kuklinski transitioned from killing upwards of 50 vagrants just for the fun of it to claiming the lives of another 150 victims as a hired killer for the Gambino crime family before being murdered in prison by another mafia hitman, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano.
He used to use cobblestones [to bash in his victims' heads], but he was getting gray matter on his clothes, so he stopped.
According to Carlo, he will be producing The Ice Man with Rourke, and shooting is expected to begin in the spring in New York, New Jersey, and Florida.