‘Rain Man’ filmmaker Levinson takes on Gotti story

LOS ANGELES—”Rain Man” director Barry Levinson has signed on to tell a big-screen story about the John Gotti crime family.

Academy Award winner Levinson is directing “Gotti: Three Generations,” which stars John Travolta as John Gotti Sr. and co-stars Lindsay Lohan and Joe Pesci. Production starts this fall in New York, with the film expected in theaters late in 2012.

In an announcement Tuesday, Levinson said he was attracted to the project because it provides an insider’s view. The film is told from the perspective of John Gotti Jr., whose life story was acquired by Fiore Films, which is producing the movie. Gotti Sr. died in prison in 2002.

“Rain Man” earned four Oscars in 1988, including best picture and director. Levinson’s other credits include “Diner,” ”Bugsy” and “Good Morning, Vietnam.”