Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro are to set to bring a new tale of organised crime to the screen in the shape of I Heard You Paint Houses.

Charles Brandt’s book – the title of which is a reference to the blood splattered during contract killings – tells of a mob assassin thought to have been responsible for more than 25 murders.

Frank ‘the Irishman’ Sheeran, whom De Niro will play, is also believed to have been involved in the murder of the notorious Teamster chief Jimmy Hoffa.

The De Niro/Scorsese partnership has already produced some bona fide cinematic classics, such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino.