Nicholas Celozzi has dedicated much of his life to delving into the events leading up to the assassination of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy. Growing up, his household was filled with whispered tales. Conversations with his uncle Joseph [Pepe] Giancana, the brother of Chicago Mob leader Sam Giancana, later provided insights into his family’s potential involvement in one of America’s most controversial moments.
After numerous portrayals of Sam Giancana in movies and TV shows, Celozzi is now reimagining the 1963 shooting of Kennedy, focusing on the key figures in the Chicago Outfit, a formidable Italian-American criminal syndicate. His latest venture into screenwriting is not just about recounting another assassination story but also about honoring his family’s legacy.
Sam Giancana, the head of the Chicago Outfit in the 1950s and 1960s, was known for his connections to the Kennedy family. He was assassinated in 1975, and his murder remains unsolved. Many have speculated about the mob’s potential role in Kennedy’s assassination, a theme explored in Celozzi’s film “November 1963,” currently in production in Winnipeg.
Drawing from Pepe Giancana’s narratives, Celozzi zeroes in on the 48 hours leading up to the assassination. Giancana, who occasionally drove for his brother, was privy to events preceding the tragic incident. These conversations led to what Celozzi refers to as the “Pepe chronicles,” a series of accounts detailing the family’s connections to the Mob.
Celozzi emphasized his drive for authenticity in portraying his family history, collaborating with Sam Giancana’s daughter Bonnie Giancana to craft an accurate script. With veteran Canadian producer Kevin DeWalt on board, the movie recently completed filming in Winnipeg and is now entering post-production in Saskatchewan.
The film’s ensemble includes renowned actors like John Travolta, Dermot Mulroney, and Mandy Patinkin, under the direction of Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Roland Joffe. Winnipeg was chosen as the filming location due to its resemblance to 1960s Chicago and iconic locations like Dealey Plaza in Dallas.
DeWalt anticipates that the film’s attention to detail and historical accuracy will captivate viewers, offering a fresh perspective on this significant moment. Celozzi clarified that his aim is not to sensationalize but to provide a missing piece of the narrative, allowing audiences to form their own interpretations of the events portrayed.