Leonardo DiCaprio (left) and Robert de Niro “vie” for a role in a supposedly new Martin Scorsese film in a commercial produced by Melco Crown Entertainment for its entertainment complexes in Asia.
YOUTUBE SCREEN GRAB
MANILA, Philippines—It’s the casting every cineaste has been dreaming of.
Hollywood stars Robert de Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and film director Martin Scorsese was recently seen in a television commercial promoting City of Dreams Manila, an entertainment complex soon to open in Parañaque City.
Set against a plush hotel and casino backdrop, the commercial entitled “The Audition” showed Scorsese welcoming De Niro and DiCaprio to Manila, telling the actors “you’ll love it here!” and informing them of a new film he was working on. The two actors then began sizing up each other for the allegedly new Scorsese movie role.
A similarly themed commercial has been airing in Macau for Studio City.
The actors reportedly pocketed $13 million each for this project which was rumored to cost around $70 million.
The City of Dreams ad has since been taken down but the one for Studio City is still up on Youtube.
City of Dreams and Studio City are integrated urban entertainment and gaming destinations developed by Melco Crown Entertainment (MCE) under the leadership of Lawrence Ho and James Packer.
City of Dreams Manila is operated by MCE in partnership with SM Investments Corp.-led Belle Corp.
It is set to rise in Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s Entertainment City on Asean Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard.
De Niro was in the country last year to promote his Nobu chain of hotels which would open its first branch in Asia at City of Dreams Manila.
In producing the short, Packer sought the help of business partner Brett Ratner, whose RatPac Entertainment enlisted Scorsese for the directorial job.
The short film is also reportedly going to feature actor Brad Pitt, said to be working on his first film with Scorsese, in the later installment of the promotional campaign in mid-2015.
The four have never been seen together in the same project—that is, until now.
“Our hope is that the trailer for ‘The Audition’ gives audiences an early look into what will surely be an important cinematic experience directed by one of the most culturally influential directors in the history of Hollywood films,” Ratner reportedly said in a statement released for the promotional film.
Scorsese had directed De Niro in notable films such as “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas” and “Casino” and DiCaprio in “The Aviator,” “The Departed” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
All films have won numerous awards and garnered critical acclaim for the director and the actors.
City of Dreams Manila’s grand opening party is set on Feb. 2 according to its Facebook page.
RELATED STORIES
A dream destination rises by the bay
Robert De Niro brings Nobu to City of Dreams Manila