Though director David O. Russell is currently busy helming his follow-up to last year’s Silver Linings Playbook, it appears that he’s lining up another high-profile project for the near future.  A report has surfaced claiming that Russell is attached to both write and direct the long-in-the-works JFK conspiracy film Legacy of Secrecy.  The film is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann, which asserts that Mafia godfather Carlos Marcello confessed to FBI informant Jack Van Laningham to having ordered JFK’s assassination.  As part of a dangerous and long-secret undercover operation, the FBI positioned Van Laningham to become confidant to Marcello, who ruled organized crime in Louisiana and most of Texas for decades.

Leonardo DiCaprio came onboard to produce and star in the pic back in 2010, and is expected to play Van Laningham.  Hit the jump for more, including the prospect of Robert De Niro joining the cast.

The folks over at Showbiz 411 (via The Playlist) spoke with the real Jack Van Laningham’s son at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this week, who claims that Russell is writing the script for Legacy of Secrecy and will also direct.  Moreover, Van Laningham said that Robert De Niro is also apparently onboard to play the Mafia kingpin Carlos Marcello.  None of this information is confirmed and it’s entirely possible that Van Laningham spoke too soon or is mistaken entirely, but the prospect of Russell tackling a mob pic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro is definitely exciting.

Russell is currently filming American Hustle in Boston with Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, and Jennifer Lawrence and has yet to commit to his next project.  He’s said to be circling the drama The Ends of the Earth which also stars Lawrence, but should pan out for Legacy of Secrecy it’s possible that the JFK film could act as his American Hustle follow-up.  Hopefully we hear more solid info soon.