Robert De Niro says he still wants to make 'The Irishman' film

NEW YORK, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Actor and producer Robert De Niro says he still plans to make his long-gestating film adaptation of the true-crime book "I Heard You Paint Houses."

The New York Post said De Niro has wanted for years to make the gangster picture "The Irishman" with director Martin Scorsese and his frequent collaborators Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.

"We have been trying to do [the film] for the last few years, and I think we will do it," De Niro told the art publication Flatt.

"It's based on [the] book 'I Heard You Paint Houses' by Charles Brandt. It's about a guy who ... confessed that he killed [Jimmy] Hoffa and Joe Gallo. I'm gonna play that character. That's something I'm looking forward to very much. ... I think it will [happen,]" he said. "We're really working toward making it happen."

De Niro previously worked with Scorsese on the films "Raging Bull," "Mean Streets" and "Goodfellas," and with Pesci on "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas," "A Bronx Tale" and "The Good Shepherd."

De Niro starred in the films "The Godfather Part II," "Heat" and "Righteous Kill" with Pacino.