Pete Davidson to Star as 'Tommy Karate' in True-Crime Film

The adaptation of Philip Carlo’s book is slated to shoot in June with sales representation in place.

Overview

Announced Friday, the project casts Davidson as Bonanno family hitman Tommy Pitera and sets Justin Chon to direct.
The film follows DEA Agent Jim Hunt’s pursuit of Pitera, with Paul Walter Hauser playing the veteran investigator.
Production is slated to start in June 2026 in the U.S., with North.five.six. handling international sales and WME Independent and CAA Media Finance on domestic rights.
Davidson is also a co-writer and producer alongside Justin Chon and Joseph Gay, and the cast includes Camila Mendes and Simon Rex.
The story draws from Philip Carlo’s The Butcher and profiles a mob figure suspected of up to 60 murders who is serving a life sentence after 1992 convictions.