Promo Trailer for Martin Scorsese’s HBO Project “Boardwalk Empire” Starring Michael Pitt and Steve Buscemi

I was just reading about this trailer, and what I read said it was disappointing. I couldn’t disagree more, this looks every bit as awesome as I thought it would be. Michael Pitt and Steve Buscemi looked great. (Although, I still want to should “You’re out of your element Donny!”) No one does gang violence like Scorsese, and it is going to be fascinating to watch him switch over to TV. HBO is just the right spot for him, and most likely he’ll get free reign on what he wants to do. Let’s hope it pays off in spades.

Synopsis:

From Terence Winter, Emmy® Award-winning writer of “The Sopranos” and Academy® Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol became illegal throughout the United States.

America in 1920: The Great War was over, Wall Street was about to boom and everything was for sale, even the World Series. It was a time of change when women got the vote, broadcast radio began and young people ruled the world.

On the beach in southern New Jersey sat Atlantic City, a spectacular resort known as “The Worldʼs Playground,” a place where the rules didnʼt apply. Massive hotels lined its famous Boardwalk, which featured nightclubs, amusement piers and entertainment that rivaled Broadway. For a few dollars, a working man could get away and live like a king – legally or illegally.

The undisputed ruler of Atlantic City was the townʼs treasurer, Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Steve Buscemi), a political fixer and backroom dealer who was equal parts politician and gangster and equally comfortable in either role. Because of its strategic location on the seaboard, the town was a hub of activity for rum-runners, minutes from Philadelphia, hours from New York City and less than a dayʼs drive from Chicago. And Nucky Thompson took full advantage.

Along with his brother Elias (Shea Whigham), who was the townʼs sheriff, and a crew of ward bosses and local thugs, Nucky carved out a niche for himself as the man to see for any illegal alcohol. He was an equal-opportunity gangster, doing business with Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), Big Jim Colosimo (Frank Crudele), “Lucky” Luciano, (Vincent Piazza) and Al Capone (Stephen Graham).

As the series begins, Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), Nuckyʼs former protégé and driver, returns home from the Great War, eager to get ahead and reclaim his rightful place in Nuckyʼs organization. But when Jimmy feels things arenʼt moving quickly enough, he takes matters into his own hands, forming a deadly alliance with some associates of Nuckyʼs that sets the Feds, led by Agent Van Alden (Michael Shannon), on his mentorʼs tail. Complicating matters further is Nuckyʼs burgeoning relationship with Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) a woman in an abusive marriage whom he tries to help out. The show also stars Michael Kenneth Williams (“The Wire”) as Chalky White, the leader of the cityʼs African-American community; Gretchen Mol as showgirl Gillian; Dabney Coleman as The Commodore, Nuckyʼs mentor; and Paz de la Huerta as Nuckyʼs girlfriend Lucy.

Created by Terence Winter, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg. Gene Kelly is co-executive producer; Rudd Simmons is producer. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Jeremy Podeswa, Alan Taylor and Allen Coulter. The series is written by Terence Winter, Lawrence Konner, Howard Korder, Tim Van Patten, Paul Simms, Margaret Nagle, Steve Kornacki and Meg Jackson. BOARDWALK EMPIRE is currently shooting in New York City and will debut on HBO in 2010.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!