Former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. in September 2007.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

The prospect of dueling movie versions of former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci’s career that seemed imminent last June — one under the auspices of Cianci himself, the other by director Michael Corrente based on the book The Prince of Providence — is now on hold, at least for this year.

Cianci, speaking during a break on his WPRO-AM radio show, said he had signed a book contract for his autobiography “several weeks ago. My manuscript is due April 1.” He said he would be working on the book with an author, but refused to disclose the name of that person. “I’m not going to comment,” he said about the details of the book deal. “There’s no reason to disclose anything at this time.”

Asked whether a film script of his life story hinged on completion of his book, Cianci said, “Not necessarily.”

Tammie Rosen, a spokeswoman for Tribeca in New York, said, “There’s no movement right now” on the Cianci project. She said it was in “the development stage,” which means that “no writer has been assigned. We’re still looking for someone to be attached to it. The process is a long one.”

Tribeca, which produces the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival as well as film projects, was founded by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, who grew up in Providence. Coincidentally, De Niro once was on Corrente’s wish list to play Cianci. When asked about reports of De Niro sightings in Providence last August, Cianci had no comment.

The prospect of a film about Cianci’s career was raised last June when director Michael Corrente announced that he was nearly ready to begin filming his long-anticipated screen version of The Prince of Providence, based on Journal reporter Mike Stanton’s book about Cianci’s life. At that time, Cianci announced that he had a deal with Tribeca Productions of New York to film his own version of his life story.

Surrounded by newspaper, radio and television reporters on the steps of Providence City Hall June 12, Corrente said production would begin by August. But on Aug. 1, Corrente announced he had put his film on hold until mid-September to see whether the Screen Actors Guild would go on strike, which could mean that he would get better leverage for hiring actors and crew members who would otherwise be out of work. The Prince of Providence had been granted a waiver by SAG because, as an independent film not financed by a major studio, it would not be stopped by a strike. He said it could save up to $1 million on the budget.

Three months after that announcement, there is no film and no SAG strike.

Reached by phone, Corrente said that despite the appearance of inactivity he has been working daily on the film, which has a script by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, with writing credit going to Howard Korder for his services on a polish draft. “I have a whole cast ready to go, a crew, the budget. But one little wrinkle is a potential SAG strike.” The director said his out-of-state investors, whom he would not name, were still waiting to see if a SAG strike would go forward, thus saving them a good deal of money.

On Oct. 19 the Hollywood Reporter said SAG had officially requested a federal mediator be brought in to break the stalemate between the actors union and the movie producers. But a decision on a federal mediator could take weeks. Corrente said he didn’t think a SAG strike would happen and that the disagreement over contract language between SAG, which represents most of the actors who work in films and television, and the major studios would be resolved later this month. “No film I’ve made was any easier,” he added. “It’s all the same. I’m not going to rush.

“When it makes sense to the finance people, I’m gonna make the picture. Nobody’s more anxious for this film to be made than I am. It’s not like I don’t have a script, I don’t have a cast, I don’t have the financing. That’s all in place.” He said that his previously announced cast is still committed, including Oliver Platt in the title role, along with Ed Burns, Dermot Mulroney and Robin Williams as “the second lead.” Of Williams, he added, “I just spoke to his people last week and he’s on board.”

Corrente said he hoped to begin “pre-production” before the end of the year which involves getting the actors in for costume fittings and building sets. “That usually takes eight weeks before you start filming.”

Asked if he were embarrassed by having made such a public announcement of his film last June, Corrente said, “I’m not even remotely embarrassed. Nobody is going to care a year from now when the movie is out that there was a stutter step at the start. No one is going to say this would have been better if he took a little longer.

“When I made the announcement, I didn’t foresee this potential SAG strike. That’s just the movie business. I was all ready to go and something got in my way. It’s gotta be done properly and can’t be rushed.

“I just keep swinging. Every movie I said was going to be made was made.”

mjanuson@projo.com