Verdi, Scorsese, DiCaprio film to shoot in RI in late spring

The action thriller “Carthage Must Be Destroyed” has postponed filming from October until late spring.
Scheduling conflicts and winter weather concerns were cited as the reasons for the delay.
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are involved in the production with East Greenwich’s Chad A. Verdi.
The film, directed by “Ocean’s Eleven” writer Ted Griffin, is expected to star unnamed A-list actors.

“Carthage Must Be Destroyed,” an action thriller movie to be filmed by East Greenwich’s Chad A. Verdi in conjunction with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, originally slated to begin filming in October, has been delayed until the late spring.

Verdi told The Providence Journal that difficulty scheduling cast, including unnamed A-listers, and crew around Thanksgiving and the winter holidays made it difficult to get in filming before the first of the year. Then, the threat of winter weather forced moving it into the late spring.

“Simply put, we could not risk the safety of the actors,” said Verdi. “Shooting in May/June allows us to … avoid our weather concerns

The story of “Carthage Must Be Destroyed” follows a stranger in a rust-belt city in decline that is ruled by the criminal underworld. The stranger looks to create chaos to bring the downfall of the corrupt power structure.

It will be directed by Ted Griffin, writer of “Ocean’s Eleven.”

Verdi said that he expects A-listers to play both the male and female leads, but declined to name them.

In addition to Verdi, Scorsese and DiCaprio, “Carthage” will be produced by LBI Entertainment’s Christopher Donelly and Gareth West, with Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Jennifer Davisson, Lisa Frechette and Sera Verdi on the production team. The production companies are Sikelia Productions, Appian Way Productions, Verdi Productions and Ketchup Entertainment.

Verdi added that he and DiCaprio will also produce a movie to be filmed this summer, with an announcement of the details expected soon.