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Mick Gatto set to feature in ‘real life Sopranos’

Mick Gatto is  to be the subject of a reality TV show, with preliminary filming by Jerry Springer’s former producer already in the can, Mumbrella can reveal.

Gatto became a household name as a result of the first series of Underbelly which focused on the Melbourne underworld.  

The early filming has been carried out by former Jerry Springer Show TV producer Toby Yoshimura who has mainly worked in the US but recently arrived in Australia. Yoshimura is also behind Australian reality online TV series Freshwater Blue.

Speaking from New York, Gatto’s agent Max Markson confirmed to Mumbrella that the project was at its early stages.

Markson said: “Some advance filming has taken place. People find Mick very interesting. There’s a side to him that people are not aware of.”

Asked if the show would be warts and all, Markson said: “It will be everything and more. When you think of the success of Underbelly and the Sopranos, it’s a real life Sopranos. You are actually going to be seeing this guy every day in what he does.”

Mumbrella understands that the project does not yet have a TV network signed up to it.

Gatto was accompanied by the film crew to court yesterday for a drink driving case. The crew was also present for a charity fundraiser Gatto did with Jerry Lewis last month.

Update: Yoshimura told Mumbrella: “I have 24 hours a day, seven days a week access. We’re just coming out of three weeks of shooting so I’ve got squillions of hours of footage.”

He said that project going public had occurred earlier than planned, so no network deal has been done, although he has a development deal with production house Freehand.

He said: “Should it go to Nine? Sure. But I’m from New York so I don’t pretend to know where it will land. It absolutely will go up in Australia.

“Mick Gatto is the last man standing. I have him talking about Carl Williams and the whole gang. The guy is the Australian John Gotti.”

Asked whether Gatto will have a say over what gets aired, he said: “We have an understanding.”

Asked whether Gatto was involved in criminal activity, he said: “I don’t know and I don’t want to know.”

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