FIRST LOOK: John Travolta is menacing as NYC mob boss John Gotti in new biopic about the rise of the notorious criminal

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 15:44 EDT, 26 September 2017 | Updated: 14:46 EDT, 27 September 2017

John Travolta shows off his dramatic abilities in the new trailer for Gotti, based on the life of notorious crime boss John Gotti. 

The media-friendly Mafia leader, who was head of the Gambino crime family, was brought to trial multiple times throughout the 1980s, only to be acquitted. 

Travolta, 63, plays Gotti in multiple stages of his life, including when he finally went to prison in 1992. 

Retelling the story: John Travolta shows off his dramatic abilities in the new trailer for Gotti, based on the life of notorious crime boss John Gotti

Retelling the story: John Travolta shows off his dramatic abilities in the new trailer for Gotti, based on the life of notorious crime boss John Gotti

The trailer begins with a voice over from Travolta as Gotti describing himself and his relationship with NYC. 

'Let me tell you something. New York is the greatest city in the world.  My city. I was a kid in this city and I made it to the top,' he began. 

Gotti started doing petty crime errands for the Gabino family mob, run by Carlo Gambino.

'Like that I became a made man,' he revealed. 

Life of crime: The media-friendly Mafia leader (pictured left) who was head of the Gambino crime family, was brought to trial multiple times throughout the 1980s, only to be acquitted
Life of crime: The media-friendly Mafia leader (pictured left) who was head of the Gambino crime family, was brought to trial multiple times throughout the 1980s, only to be acquitted

Life of crime: The media-friendly Mafia leader (pictured left) who was head of the Gambino crime family, was brought to trial multiple times throughout the 1980s, only to be acquitted

Home city: The trailer begins with a voice over from Travolta describing himself and his relationship with NYC

Home city: The trailer begins with a voice over from Travolta describing himself and his relationship with NYC

'Let me tell you something. New York is the greatest city in the world. My city. I was a kid in this city and I made it to the top,' he began

'Let me tell you something. New York is the greatest city in the world. My city. I was a kid in this city and I made it to the top,' he began

'Teflon': John Gotti ran the Gambino crime family for nearly a decade until a 1992 conviction landed him in prison until his death in 2002

'Teflon': John Gotti ran the Gambino crime family for nearly a decade until a 1992 conviction landed him in prison until his death in 2002

The film picks up as Gotti starts to gain power within the 'family.'

Gun violence and murder is riddled throughout the trailer, with Gotti scoffing at his son's insistence on taking some time off and joining the business. 

Kelly Preston, Travolta's real-life wife, plays his on-screen spouse Victoria Gotti. 

'Do you know what you're going to this family?' she asks in the trailer. 

By 1985, John Gotti was running one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world after organizing the gangland slaying of then Gambino-boss Paul Castellano outside of a bustling Manhattan steak house. 

Hard life: Kelly Preston, Travolta's real-life wife, plays his on-screen spouse Victoria Gotti
Hard life: Kelly Preston, Travolta's real-life wife, plays his on-screen spouse Victoria Gotti (real Victoria Gotti pictured in 1990)

Hard life: Kelly Preston, Travolta's real-life wife, plays his on-screen spouse Victoria Gotti (real Victoria Gotti pictured in 1990)

Criminal: By 1985, John Gotti was running one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world after organizing the gangland slaying of then Gambino-boss Paul Castellano

Criminal: By 1985, John Gotti was running one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world after organizing the gangland slaying of then Gambino-boss Paul Castellano

The real family: John (pictured left) had five children with his wife, including Victoria and John Jr (pictured right in 2011)
The real family: John (pictured left) had five children with his wife, including Victoria and John Jr (pictured right in 2011)

The real family: John (pictured left) had five children with his wife, including Victoria and John Jr (pictured right in 2011) 

John and Victoria Gotti had five children - Angel, Victoria, John, Frank and Peter. 

Their second-youngest son Frank was killed on March 18, 1980, when neighbor John Favara ran the 12-year-old boy over with his car.

The incident was ruled an accident, but when Favara visited the family to offer his condolences, Victoria Gotti attacked him with a baseball bat. 

In July of 1980, Favara was abducted and never heard from again. He was presumed murdered in a hit ordered by Gotti - an allegation John Gotti Jr. has said is 'probable.'

Of all the Gotti children, John Jr. is the only one to follow his father into a life of crime. By 1982, John Jr. already had become a Gambino Family 'associate,' and by 1990 he had been named a 'capo' in the organization.

The route his son John Jr. takes to follow in his father's footsteps is a central plot line in the trailer and one his wife, Victoria is not happy about. 

Family business: The route his son John Jr. takes to follow in his father's footsteps is a central plotline in the trailer and one his wife, Victoria is not happy about

Family business: The route his son John Jr. takes to follow in his father's footsteps is a central plotline in the trailer and one his wife, Victoria is not happy about

Looking up to Dad: Of all the Gotti children, John Jr. is the only one to follow his father into a life of crime, portrayed by Spencer Lofranco in the film

Looking up to Dad: Of all the Gotti children, John Jr. is the only one to follow his father into a life of crime, portrayed by Spencer Lofranco in the film

By 1982, John Jr. already had become a Gambino Family 'associate,' and by 1990 he had been named a 'capo' in the organization (pictured in January 2016)

By 1982, John Jr. already had become a Gambino Family 'associate,' and by 1990 he had been named a 'capo' in the organization (pictured in January 2016)

Voice over from the trailer touches on this relationship: 'I'm so proud of you, you should be running your own crew now.' 

'Dad you say the word, I'll go over a cliff for you,' John Jr., played by Spencer Lofranco, says at one point. 

The trailer then flashes to John behind bars with his wife yelling at him: 'You swore to me that you would not bring him into that world.'

The real Victoria Gotti  has spoken out about her son following in his father's footsteps. 

The real Victoria Gotti has spoken out about her son following in his father's footsteps

The real Victoria Gotti has spoken out about her son following in his father's footsteps

 Flashing that smile: The trailer also focuses on Gotti's love of media attention, which earned him the nickname 'The Dapper Don' for his expensive clothes and personality

 Flashing that smile: The trailer also focuses on Gotti's love of media attention, which earned him the nickname 'The Dapper Don' for his expensive clothes and personality

In 2006, she told the New York Daily News that she felt 'betrayed' that her husband had dragged their son into a life of crime.

'I pretty much raised my children alone with Johnny being away for years at a time, so it broke my heart. I felt betrayed, the worst betrayal. I would rather have dealt with other women,' she told the paper.

The trailer also focuses on Gotti's love of media attention, which earned him the nickname 'The Dapper Don' for his expensive clothes and personality in front of news cameras.

'John's getting too much press,' one character laments in the trailer. 'That can't go unchecked.'  

 Supporting him in court: Preston portrays a woman who was always by her husband's side

 Supporting him in court: Preston portrays a woman who was always by her husband's side

End of his life of crime: John Gotti, played by Travolta at multiple stages of his life, was convicted of five murders,conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison where he died in 2002
End of his life of crime: John Gotti, played by Travolta at multiple stages of his life, was convicted of five murders,conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison where he died in 2002

End of his life of crime: John Gotti was convicted of five murders,conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison where he died in 2002

Preston portrays a woman who was always by her husband's side.  At one point in the trailer, as the couple are walking out of a court house, a reporter asks her, 'do you know what your husband does for a living.'

'He provides,' she responded. 

John Gotti was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison.

Gotti, the 'Dapper Don' of the Gambino crime syndicate, died of throat cancer in prison in 2002.  

Travolta has been attached to the Gotti biopic for over five years now, staying with the project even as numerous Hollywood heavyweights dropped out of the film.

Long time in the works: Travolta has been attached to the Gotti biopic for over five years now, staying with the project even as numerous Hollywood heavyweights dropped out of the film

Long time in the works: Travolta has been attached to the Gotti biopic for over five years now, staying with the project even as numerous Hollywood heavyweights dropped out of the film

Based on a memoir: Gotti's oldest son John Gotti Jr, who wrote the 2015 memoir Shadow of My Father, is one of the film's producers.

Based on a memoir: Gotti's oldest son John Gotti Jr, who wrote the 2015 memoir Shadow of My Father, is one of the film's producers.

Nick Cassavetes, Joe Johnston and Barry Levinson were all attached to direct at one point, while a trio of Oscar-winning actors - Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Anthony Hopkins - left the film after being cast due to multiple false starts that kept pushing back the start date for principal photography on the movie.

Gotti's oldest son John Gotti Jr, who wrote the 2015 memoir Shadow of My Father, is one of the film's producers. 

The film is now being directed by Entourage star Kevin Connolly, while Travolta and Preston's 16-year-old daughter Ella Bleu will also appear as Gotti's first daughter Angel.  

Gotti hits theaters in the US on December 15, 2017.

Coming soon: Gotti hits theaters in the US on December 15, 2017

Coming soon: Gotti hits theaters in the US on December 15, 2017

 

Comments 90

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.