Paramount has hired screenwriters David Levien and Brian Koppelman - who just rewrote Brett Ratner's Josiah's Canon - to write The Untouchables: Capone Rising a prequel to the 1987 film to be directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, King Arthur).

The film will center on Capone and the early version of Irish cop Jimmy Malone, who is as crooked as every other Chicago cop until Capone becomes king of the underworld.

"The film starts on the eve of Capone's arrival, and while Malone wasn't the most corrupt cop, he operated at a time when every cop was on the take," Levien told the trade. "Once he crosses paths with Capone, he sees a level of violence and criminality that causes him to have a moral awakening."

"This period of Capone's life hasn't been done since the movies of the '40s and '50s," Koppelman added. "Sherry Lansing and Donald De Line said feel free to come up with the most compelling, dark, violent and complicated guy you've ever seen."

Speaking to Aint it Cool News, “Shooter” director Antoine Fuqua (don’t say it too fast, could get yourself into trouble) confirmed that he’s no longer onboard “The Untouchables” prequel – not even in a producing capacity (despite doing quite a bit of the legwork on the film, so I hear, earlier on).

Referring to the film as ‘Al Capone’ – which makes sense since the film will trace the younger years of the infamous crook – the filmmaker simply states that he’s “not attached to. I think Brian DePalma is now. That was brought to me before the new regime at Paramount. I don't know what's going on with that”.

Did a check-in with a pal at Paramount and that is indeed the case. DePalma is attached to direct; Art Linson is producing; Ryan Kavanaugh and John Linson are executive producing; and Brad Weston is the studio figure heading up the project. At this stage, the film is expected to start shooting in June.

Both Nicolas Cage and Sean Penn are said to be on DePalma’s wish list for Capone.