Scorsese, DiCaprio, Johnson & Blunt Unite for Hawaii-Set Crime Epic at 20th Century Studios
Martin Scorsese, Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES; MICHAEL BUCKNER/GG2025/PENSKE MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES; FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES; TIM P. WHITBY/GETTY IMAGE
Martin Scorsese heads to the islands for a star-studded gangster saga, blending prestige and paradise with Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, and Emily Blunt at the helm.
A new era of mob cinema is on the horizon—and it’s heading straight for paradise. 20th Century Studios has secured one of the most high-profile packages of the year: an untitled Hawaii-set crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, and Emily Blunt.
Set in the 1960s and ’70s, the project is being described as a tropical cousin to Goodfellas and The Departed. Based on a true story, it follows a charismatic mob boss who rises through the ranks to dominate the Hawaiian underworld, waging war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates. But this isn’t just another tale of organized crime—it’s also about heritage, resistance, and the fight to preserve ancestral land in the face of brutal modernization. A story of power, blood, and loyalty told in the unlikeliest of places.
The film marks yet another reunion between DiCaprio and Scorsese, who last worked together on Killers of the Flower Moon and continue to collaborate across multiple upcoming projects. Johnson and Blunt, fresh off Jungle Cruise, are also strengthening their creative partnership—this story originated with Blunt and has since evolved into a book co-authored by Johnson and journalist Nick Bilton, who is penning the script and producing through his True Story Productions banner.
Scorsese will produce through Sikelia Productions, Johnson via Seven Bucks Productions, DiCaprio through Appian Way, and Blunt through her Ledbury Productions. The producing roster also includes Dany Garcia (Seven Bucks), Lisa Frechette (Sikelia), Rick Yorn, and Chris Donnelly of LBI Entertainment.
Building a Prestige Future at 20th Century
The project’s acquisition is a bold move by 20th Century Studios, now under the stewardship of David Greenbaum, who has taken a sharp turn toward prestige-driven fare. The Scorsese-led crime saga joins a slate that includes Ridley Scott’s Dog Star, Edward Berger’s The Barrier starring Austin Butler, and the Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowherewith Jeremy Allen White.
Greenbaum’s mission has been clear: to make 20th Century a home for name-brand filmmakers and elevated storytelling. This film—combining Hollywood’s most bankable stars with one of cinema’s greatest auteurs—is a statement piece. And in bypassing rivals like Warner Bros. or the streaming giants, it signals a resurgence of studio ambition for theatrical storytelling.
The New Mob Saga—Island Edition
The narrative explores a lesser-known chapter of American crime history, where power plays unfold against the backdrop of palm trees and volcanic ridges. It’s a radical departure from the East Coast tenements and neon city lights we usually associate with the genre. Yet, the core themes remain: power, ambition, betrayal, and cultural survival.
And while Scorsese is no stranger to stories of complicated anti-heroes, this will be his first time examining organized crime through the lens of Indigenous land rights and cultural sovereignty. In that way, Remaining Native (a recent Sundance breakout) and this yet-untitled film might unexpectedly complement each other—different approaches to legacy, identity, and empire-building.
What’s Next for the Cast & Creators
This crime saga arrives at a crossroads in each of its major players’ careers. For Johnson, it’s part of a deeper shift into prestige drama, following his A24 collaboration The Smashing Machine with Benny Safdie and Blunt. Blunt, meanwhile, continues her evolution as both star and producer, balancing crowd-pleasers with textured, risk-taking projects (Pain Hustlers, The English).
Scorsese and DiCaprio remain one of the industry’s most reliable duos, and their creative pipeline includes the long-gestating adaptation of The Devil in the White City—another project now landing at 20th Century. Appian Way is also producing the documentary Nine Little Indians, a sobering investigation into Native boarding schools.
This untitled mob epic not only reunites these creatives at the peak of their powers—it redefines what a modern crime drama can be.
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