Martin Scorsese is taking on the world of gambling once again, this time helming a new project for Netflix based in Las Vegas and focused on the high-stakes world of modern casinos. The Martin Scorsese Netflix casino series will feature eight episodes, bringing together an impressive team of showrunners and executive producers, including Brian Koppelman and David Levien, well-known for their work on “Ocean’s 13” and “Billions.”
Production Team and Story Overview
The untitled project features Scorsese as executive producer through Sikelia Productions, alongside Julie Yorn and Rick Yorn for Expanded Media, Paul Schiff for Best Available, and Beth Schacter. Kerry Orent will co-executive produce the series. While no casting details have been released so far, the storyline centers on Robert “Bobby Red” Redman, the president of Las Vegas’s most sought-after hotel casino, as he navigates the cutthroat and risky environment of modern-day gambling in an effort to secure his position and expand his influence.
“An hour-long drama set in the high-stakes, sharp-elbowed present-day Las Vegas casino business, which is a modernized but still dangerous version of the legendary city. At the center of which stands Robert “Bobby Red” Redman, president of the hottest hotel casino in town, who has to make some long odds moves to try and secure his position and take more ground.”
Koppelman and Levien, with credits like “Rounders” and “Billions” behind them, bring significant experience in the crime and drama genres, reinforcing expectations of a gripping narrative.
Scorsese’s Experience with the Crime and Casino World
Martin Scorsese is internationally recognized as a filmmaker for celebrated movies such as “Taxi Driver,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “The Irishman,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” often depicting crime and intense personal drama. Despite his reputation as a film director, Scorsese is no stranger to television; he previously worked as executive producer and directed episodes of “Boardwalk Empire” and “Vinyl.”
His return to a casino-themed story for Netflix naturally draws comparisons to his iconic 1995 movie, “Casino,” which delved into the lives of a casino executive and a mob enforcer, played by repeat collaborators Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, alongside Sharon Stone, James Woods, and Don Rickles. While “Casino” earned Sharon Stone an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, it did not claim the range of accolades achieved by some of Scorsese’s other films. Nevertheless, the upcoming series marks his return to the darker side of Vegas, this time with a fresh take and a modern backdrop.
What Sets This Series Apart
Unlike “Casino,” the new Netflix series is set firmly in the present day, focusing on the evolving nature of Las Vegas and the new forms of risk and drama that shape its casinos. Its protagonist, Robert “Bobby Red” Redman, aims to outmaneuver rivals and bet big to maintain his place at the center of the city’s bustling casino scene.
The production has not yet revealed its cast, leaving audiences to anticipate whether Scorsese will collaborate again with longtime favorites like De Niro, who has recently taken on projects such as the Netflix miniseries “Zero Day.” Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, frequent Scorsese collaborators, are also mentioned in reports regarding his upcoming projects, adding to the suspense around the eventual lineup.
Scorsese’s Broader Television Work and Next Steps
Scorsese’s wider television work extends beyond this new series. He is also producing “Cape Fear” for Apple TV and directed the 2021 docuseries “Pretend It’s a City,” a perspective on New York City. With every new venture, Scorsese steadily grows his legacy both in film and on streaming platforms, continuing to explore complex characters and bold stories.
As anticipation grows, the Martin Scorsese Netflix casino series stands poised to offer an intense, contemporary look at the highs and lows of the gambling world in Las Vegas. Whether the director’s most famous collaborators will appear remains uncertain, but the creative team and setting promise a dramatic and high-stakes addition to Netflix’s lineup.
