John Travolta to star in Gotti biopic?

John Travolta has been named as a frontrunner to play John Gotti in the upcoming biopic of the legendary mob boss.

Fiore Films is planning the movie, which will depict three generations of the Gotti crime family. Travolta has reportedly held "serious talks" with the company to play the lead role.

Marc Fiore - CEO of the firm - told Entertainment Weekly: "We would love to have [Travolta]. He's a terrific actor. John Gotti Sr - he's an icon. And so is Travolta.

"The Gotti's 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."

Fiore is also apparently aiming to secure the directing services of The Notebook's Nick Cassavetes, as well as James Franco to play the role of John Gotti Jr.

Gotti Jr is said to have been working closely with the screenwriters. Fiore added: "It's going to be the new Godfather. It's a story about a father and a son, but the father happens to be John Gotti Sr."