Actor John Travolta is in negotiations to portray mob leader John Gotti in an upcoming biopic from director Nick Cassavetes.

We first reported on this project back in December, when Nick Cassavetes entered into talks to direct, a deal that is now being finalized. Actor Leo Rossi is writing the screenplay.

The news of John Travolta circling the part was confirmed by executive producer Marc Fiore. Here's what he had to say about the actor:

"We would love to have him. He's a terrific actor. John Gotti, Sr. - he's an icon. And so is Travolta. The Gottis have an image already. People know who they are. You can't just be a good actor, you have to be a great actor who can become John Gotti."

James Franco has also been mentioned to portray John Gotti Jr., although his rep would only confirm that the actor was sent the script. The story of this untitled biopic is said to span three generations of the Gotti crime family. The Gotti family has signed deals to act as consultants on the movie and John Gotti Jr. worked on the script with Leo Rossi

Producers plan to start filming on the John Gotti biopic sometime this summer.