When Pistone's book, Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia was published in 1988, Louis DiGiaimo, who worked as a casting director for Barry Levinson, was a childhood acquaintance of Joseph D. Pistone, and served as a consultant for the book, bought the film rights. DiGiaimo brought it to Levinson's Baltimore Pictures, as well as producers Mark Johnson and Gail Mutrux, who then turned to Paul Attanasio to write the script. Stephen Frears was initially hired as director for the film, but when Goodfellas, another mob film, was released in 1990, the planning for the film was pushed back. Frears was adamant about casting Pacino to play Lefty. After several years of development hell, Frears was eventually replaced with Mike Newell as director, and development picked up in 1996. Pacino and Depp were ultimately cast in the co-starring roles, and Pistone was hired as a consultant to help them develop their characters.
Movie's ratings
Donnie Brasco
(1997) " Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story."
| Country | |
| Runtime | 2 hr 7 min |
| Budget | $35 000 000 |
| Premiere: World | $124 909 762 February 28, 1997 |
| USA | $41 909 762 |
| Other countries | $83 000 000 |
| Box Office – Budget | $89 909 762 |
| Premiere: USA | $41 909 762 February 24, 1997 |
| theaters | 1593 |
| rollout | 307 days |
| Digital: World | April 4, 2006 |
| Parental Advisory | Profanity, Violence & Gore, Frightening & Intense Scenes, ... |
| |
| Production Companies | |