Hollywood icon Robert De Niro, known for his legendary portrayals of gangsters, made a dramatic appearance on ITV's This Morning on March 18, 2025, accompanied by co-star Debra Messing. De Niro, promoting his latest film, The Alto Knights, struggled to engage in lively conversation, leaving viewers wondering if he regretted his choice to participate.
During the show, De Niro went through the motions as presenter Alison Hammond introduced a game intended to lighten the atmosphere, which paired him with Messing. The game involved guessing whether various unusual nicknames belonged to fictional gangsters or Messing's classmates. However, De Niro's reluctance to engage resulted in an awkward, tension-filled segment.
Despite the actor's illustrious career, spanning over five decades and numerous iconic roles, his demeanor left many fans disappointed. "#thismorning Robert De Niro was straight on the phone to his agent after that," commented one amused social media user. Another noted, "What’s wrong with Robert De Niro? He looks so confused." Fans expressed concern about his confused demeanor, a sentiment shared during previous appearances, like his recent interview on The One Show, where viewers remarked on his apparent disinterest.
The segment was particularly painful for viewers as De Niro lost to Messing in the game, which seemed to frustrate him further. One viewer quipped, "He’s definitely thinking how the heck did I get here. #thismorning" amidst the uncomfortable exchanges. Many fans felt that his reluctance to participate in the quiz was more amusing than the game itself.
As the conversation shifted, the 81-year-old actor discussed his dual roles in The Alto Knights, where he portrays Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, two iconic figures in the Mafia. "I thought [playing two roles] was more of a justifiable reason to do another gangster movie other than working with all the people I've worked with over the years," explained De Niro. Co-star Messing, equally in awe of the project, remarked, "I went back and watched all of his gangster films. I pinched myself, this is a very special project."
Written by Nicholas Pileggi, a collaborator on classics like Goodfellas and Casino, the film explores the intense rivalry between its protagonists, encapsulating the height of New York's organized crime scene in the late 1950s.
De Niro’s performance is praised as a fitting farewell to the gangster genre if this chapter indeed closes the book on his iconic portrayal of mobsters. Critics are already hailing The Alto Knights—a solid crime drama with a historical lens—as potentially his last major role in such a capacity.
Fans should be aware that De Niro's film is directed by Barry Levinson, who helped shape his career trajectory, offering a nostalgic return to familiar territory. "It justified doing a gangster movie again," he noted. Meanwhile, viewers remain captivated by the authenticity of his dual performances, reflecting decades of nuanced experience.
In discussing the filming experience, De Niro shared humorous complaints about working with animals in the film, noting, "The dogs didn't know what was going on; this wasn't a walk they did every day." In an age where artificial intelligence is becoming a significant part of media production, he voiced concerns regarding its impact on the industry. "Everybody's worried. You can’t replace people; the heart and soul of cinema is the people involved," he said.
The veteran actor expressed uncertainty regarding AI's future role in cinema. "Who knows? It’s going to go somewhere, and we’re going to have to deal with it," he added, revealing the tension surrounding technology's rapid evolution. Despite these uncertainties, De Niro welcomed the challenge of portraying two complex characters in a genre that has defined his long and storied career.
The Alto Knights is set to hit theaters on March 21, 2025, marking a notable milestone in De Niro's illustrious career. As audiences prepare to witness what could potentially be the final representation of the mobster's world through his lens, the film stands poised to stir both nostalgia and admiration for a cinematic legend.
