Anthony Hopkins has signed on for an unspecified role in the gangster biopic Gotti, just a few weeks after director Joe Johnston came on board to give the languishing project new life.

John Travolta stars as Gambino family crime boss John Gotti, with Kelly Preston portraying the teflon don's wife, Victoria Gotti. The story follows Gotti and his son, who wants to leave the family business to start fresh on his own.

Leo Rossi and Lem Dobbs wrote the screenplay, based on an original idea by John Gotti Jr.. Marc Fiore, Ted Field, Thomas Devlin and Michael Froch are producing. Shooting is scheduled to begin in New York this September.

Anthony Hopkins will next be seen in Red 2, Thor: The Dark World, and in Noah.