John D'Leo, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dianna Agron in 'The Family'
John D'Leo, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dianna Agron in 'The Family'

From director Luc Besson (Taken, Léon) comes a new gangster movieThe Family- only this time Besson has made a black comedy. The Family stars Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer as a husband and wife duo. The pair co-starred together in 2007's Stardust but hadn't actually 'performed' together until now.

The plot follows the Manzoni family, led by patriarchal Giovanni (De Niro), who are placed under witness protection after snitching on the mafia. After the mafia turn on him, wanting him dead, Giovanni's family are moved en masse from Brooklyn to Normandy in France reinventing themselves as 'the Blakes' but encounter difficulties when trying to fit in.

The family may be safe hiding in France but the unsuspecting French citizens couldn't possibly prepare for what awaits them - old habits die hard as the Manzoni's take their big city criminal mindset to small-town France: lying, robbing and beating up anyone who crosses them, all the while the mafia are attempting to track them down.

Watch The Trailer For Robert De Niro Comedy The Family Now:

Watching the trailer, the family angle of The Sopranos is evident, with the same displaced gangster violence seen in Lillyhammer. The trailer footage gives a flavour of the violence and black comedy as the family seek revenge on anyone who dares cross them, explained further by Besson, speaking to USA Today: "If he [Giovanni] meets the plumber and the plumber tries to fool with him, then that guy will die. If you contradict them you are in trouble."

Son (John D'Leo, The Wrestler) and daughter (Dianna Agron, Glee) are chips off the block, taking similar gangster tactics to the schoolyard and terrorising the town. To complete the tough gangster family set-up, Besson even describes their dog as "a hard-ass."

De Niro is often typecast in Italian/American mob roles, having previously played characters in The Godfather: Part II, Goodfellas and Analyze This. Even Pfeiffer played wife to a mobster 20 years ago in Married to the Mob, a performance which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Despite explaining how the roles are different, Pfeiffer admits that "there is going to be some crossover. That's unavoidable."

Currently in post-production, The Family is due to open in US cinemas on 20th September, and will be released in UK cinemas on 8th November this year.

Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer play mobster Giovanni Manzoni and his wife in 'The Family' Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer play mobster Giovanni Manzoni and his wife in 'The Family'
Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer play mobster Giovanni Manzoni and his wife in 'The Family'

Dianna Agron and John D'Leo play the troublemaking Manzoni kids in 'The Family' Dianna Agron and John D'Leo play the troublemaking Manzoni kids in 'The Family'
Dianna Agron and John D'Leo play the troublemaking Manzoni kids in 'The Family'

Michelle Pfeiffer commits arson in 'The Family'
Michelle Pfeiffer commits arson in 'The Family'

Robert De Niro in trouble with the mob in 'The Family'
Robert De Niro in trouble with the mob in 'The Family'

Tommy Lee Jones plays exasperated cop in 'The Family'
Tommy Lee Jones plays exasperated cop in 'The Family'