Pete Davidson debuts a stunning new look as notorious gangster Tommy Pitera in the first official photo from “Tommy Karate.”Photo credit (Instagram)
Pete Davidson has stepped into his darkest role yet, trading in his signature comedic style for a menacing turn as gangster Tommy Pitera in the upcoming film Tommy Karate.
A first look at the actor’s portrayal has been released, showing a dramatic departure from his Saturday Night Live days.
Pete Davidson embraces a major career shift when he steps into the role of convicted gangster Tommy Pitera in “Tommy Karate.” Image credit (Instagram)
In the black-and-white photo, Davidson looks completely transformed, replacing his familiar smile with a dark smoke as he looks away from the camera in a side view. He appears to be wearing a wig, hair slicked back and wearing a dark suit in the stunning photo. The film’s director, Justin Chun, shared the photo on Instagram, quipping about Davidson’s evolution from comedy.
“Pettiz is all grown up now,” Chun wrote. “This is Pete Davidson as gangster Tommy Karate.
“It’s been a long journey to get here but I’m excited for everyone to see how talented he is.”
Tommy Pitera’s brutal legacy Bonanno crime family member
According to Deadline, the King of Staten Island actor will portray the character of Pitera in the film, a member of the Bonnano crime family who earned the nickname “Tommy Karate” due to his use of martial arts in fighting. New York prosecutors described him as a “ruthless killer,” with reports claiming he dismembered bodies and buried them on Staten Island.
Petera, now 71, denied involvement in the crimes, but was eventually convicted of killing six people and supervising a drug operation, and was sentenced to life imprisonment after his 1992 trial.
Pete Davidson’s three-year journey to bring “Tommy Karate” to the screen
Davidson serves as producer and co-writer on the film, roles he has been committed to for more than three years. In a statement shared with the outlet in March, he expressed his passion for the project. “Tommy Karate is the greatest mob story ever told. I’ve been working on this story for over three years, and I’m so glad it’s finally getting underway.”
Pete Davidson’s transition from stand-up comedy to serious dramatic roles
Although Davidson is excited about the gangster role, he has admitted in the past that it was difficult to transition from his comedic background to dramatic acting. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight last July, he talked about the transformation. “The acting is so embarrassing. That’s because I’m an actor, so it’s very ridiculous. To get there and be like ‘Oh!’ I can only do it two or three times before I start laughing.”The cast reveals Davidson’s dedication to expanding his abilities as a performer, demonstrating his desire to break out of the world of sketch comedy that catapulted him to fame.
