Pete Davidson Takes on Role of Mafia Killer ‘Tommy Karate’ in New Film Alongside Paul Walter Hauser and Co-Stars Camila Mendes and Simon Rex, Directed by Justin Chon
EXCLUSIVE: After dedicating over three years to the project, Pete Davidson is set to fulfill a “dream job,” portraying infamous mafia assassin Tommy Pitera, known as Tommy Karate.
Production for the crime thriller Tommy Karate is slated to begin in June. The film draws inspiration from real events and is based on Philip Carlo’s non-fiction work, The Butcher: Anatomy Of A Mafia Psychopath.
The storyline will follow the manhunt and arrest of one of America’s most notorious mobsters and serial killers, depicted through the lens of DEA Agent Jim Hunt, portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird).
Joining the cast are Camila Mendes (Masters of the Universe) and Simon Rex (Red Rocket), with Justin Chon (Pachinco) directing. The film is a collaboration among North.Five.Six, Two & Two Pictures, and Grammercy Park Media, with a screenplay written by Davidson, Chon, and Joseph Gay.
Tommy Pitera was a member of the Bonanno crime family in New York City. Initially serving as a ‘soldier’ and later ascending to ‘captain’ of his own crew, he was suspected by law enforcement of being involved in as many as 60 murders. Renowned for his karate skills, which he developed in his youth, Pitera earned the nicknames “Tommy Karate” and “The Karate Guy.” Currently, he is serving a life sentence at USP Big Sandy in Inez, Kentucky, after being convicted in 1992 for murder and running a large drug operation.
Davidson expressed enthusiasm for the film, describing it as a passion project: “Tommy Karate is the greatest mob story never told. I’ve been working on this for over three years, and I’m beyond thrilled that it’s finally in motion. Playing a role like this is a dream job. We have a great team behind this one, and I can’t wait for people to see what we’ve come up with.”
Davidson also takes on a producing role, collaborating with Lucan Toh from Two & Two Pictures, and Ford Corbett and Nathan Klingher from Gramercy Park Media. Executive producers include Mark Fasano and Joshua Harris (Gramercy Park Media); Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, and Warren Goz (north.five.six.); and Laura Garofalo, Jarod Einsohn, and David Osokow.
Director Chon, recognized for his work on the Cannes title Blue Bayou and the hit Apple series Pachinco, stated: “Together with Pete and the team, we’re reimagining the gangster genre through a contemporary lens—driven by character, fresh visuals, and real consequence. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a reinvention.”
Production will take place in the U.S. North.five.six. is managing international sales, while domestic rights are represented by WME Independent and CAA Media Finance.
