LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Joe Pesci will star in his first major film role in eight years in the upcoming movie "Love Ranch," Variety.com reported.
The film is inspired by the story of Joe and Sally Conforte, proprietors of the first legalized house of prostitution in Nevada.
Although he had a small role in "The Good Shepherd" last year, Pesci hasn't starred in a film since "Lethal Weapon 4" in 1999.
Pesci will team up with Helen Mirren, while "Ray" director Taylor Hackford -- Mirren's husband -- will direct "Love Ranch."
"Joe didn't have any desire to work but he was the first person I had in mind to play the husband, this former cab driver who dreamed of making prostitution legal and carved out a tiny county and convinced the local politicians," Hackford said. "He's playing the godfather of legalized prostitution and it convinced Joe to jump back into the fire."
The film also marks the first time Hackford and Mirren will work together since the 1985 dance dramaWhite Nights."
Filming is to begin in late January in Albuquerque and Hackford said he hoped to have the movie ready for the Toronto Film Festival.
