In August of 2009 we found out that a movie about one of the planet’s most infamous killers, Richard Kuklinski, was being delayed because the producer at that time wanted Channing Tatum for the role. Many of you spoke up about who you’d like to see play the part, and we later found out that one of those names, Mickey Rourke, had been cast in the role.

Now comes a bit of a surprise: there’s actually another separate movie based on Kuklinski, better known as The Ice Man, in the works as well. This project, titled The Iceman, comes from Nu Image, and already has its star: Michael Shannon, who can currently be seen on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and has also been seen in movies like Bug and Revolutionary Road, which nabbed him an Academy Award nomination. Benicio Del Toro is also set for a role in the film, and James Franco is a possibility. This film will be directed by Ariel Vromen, who has previously helmed Rx and Danika.

The Rourke project is aiming to begin production come spring, while this second project is aiming at a start date some time next summer.

Last August, we covered a story about the Iceman, Richard Kuklinski, one of the world’s most infamous serial killers and mafia hitmen (Read: Best News Ever: Ice Man Richard Kuklinski Movie Delayed Due To Channing Tatum Casting Possibility). At the time, it was revealed that Philip Carlo, who authored the book The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer, was pulling out of his movie deal to adapt the book with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura because Bonaventura wanted to cast Channing Tatum to play Kuklinski.

This would have been one of the worst casting choices in the history of cinema, and everyone including Carlo seemed to know it, which led to the halt and retreat from further progress. At the time, Carlo made it known that his preference was for Mickey Rourke to take on the role, and though many of you felt actors like James Gandolfini or Tom Wilkinson would be best, it’s now being reported that Rourke is indeed attached to star.