Pete Davidson is set to lead the upcoming crime thriller “Tommy Karate,” a film inspired by the life of notorious mobster and serial killer Tommy Pitera. Davidson has been developing the project for over three years, and it promises to deliver a gripping true crime story.
According to Deadline, Davidson will be joined by a talented cast including Camila Mendes (Masters of the Universe), Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird), and Simon Rex (Red Rocket). Hauser will portray Jim Hunt, a notorious DEA agent. Production is scheduled to kick off this June. The film will be directed by Justin Chon (Pachinko), who also co-wrote the screenplay with Davidson and Joseph Gay. The story is based on Philip Carlo’s non-fiction book The Butcher: Anatomy Of A Mafia Psychopath.
The production is led by Davidson, along with Lucan Toh, Ford Corbett, and Nathan Klingher. Executive producers include Mark Fasano, Joshua Harris, Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, Warren Goz, Laura Garofalo, Jarod Einsohn, and David Osokow. The project is produced by North.Five.Six, Two & Two Pictures, and Gramercy Park Media.
“Tommy Karate is the greatest mob story never told. I’ve been working on this for over three years, and I’m beyond thrilled that it’s finally in motion,” Davidson shared. “Playing a role like this is a dream job. We have a great team behind this one, and I can’t wait for people to see what we’ve come up with.”
Chon added, “Together with Pete and the team, we’re reimagining the gangster genre through a contemporary lens—driven by character, fresh visuals, and real consequence. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a reinvention.”
The film will depict the pursuit and capture of Tommy Pitera, who earned the nicknames Tommy Karate and The Karate Guy due to his martial arts skills. Once considered one of America’s most ruthless mobsters and serial killers, Pitera was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 after being convicted of murder and operating a large drug empire. He is currently incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy.
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