Hawaiian Underworld: Martin Scorsese To Direct Star-Studded Crime Saga

Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, and Emily Blunt Unite in 1960s Mob Drama

20th Century Studios has secured a compelling crime thriller set in Hawaii, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, and Emily Blunt, with Martin Scorsese directing. Scripted by journalist and author Nick Bilton, the film draws inspiration from real events and is likened to Scorsese’s classics like “Goodfellas” and “The Departed.” The narrative centers on a charismatic mob boss striving to dominate the Hawaiian underworld during the 1960s and 1970s, battling mainland corporations and rival syndicates to preserve his ancestral land.​

All principal figures are also producers: Scorsese through Sikelia Productions, Johnson via Seven Bucks Productions, DiCaprio with Appian Way Productions, and Blunt through Ledbury Productions. Bilton contributes as a producer via True Story Productions. The project originated from Blunt and Johnson’s collaboration, with Johnson co-authoring a book on the subject alongside Bilton.​

Seven Bucks co-founder Dany Garcia, Sikelia’s Lisa Frechette, and LBI Entertainment’s Rick Yorn and Chris Donnelly will serve as executive producers. This marks one of the inaugural projects from Seven Bucks’ first-look deal with Disney, established earlier this year to develop films for theatrical and streaming releases.​

The acquisition underscores 20th Century Studios’ commitment to prestige projects and collaborations with renowned filmmakers under the leadership of David Greenbaum, president of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios. Recent endeavors include greenlighting Ridley Scott’s “Dog Star,” Edward Berger’s time-travel film “The Barrier” starring Austin Butler, and completing production on the Bruce Springsteen biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere” featuring Jeremy Allen White.