Robert De Niro Steps Into Bernie Madoff’s Slippers For ‘Wizard Of Lies’ — First Pic

Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro have officially transformed. HBO just released the first look at their new movie, ‘Wizard Of Lies,’ showing the stars portraying Bernie and Ruth Madoff — and it’s extremely accurate.

Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer have stepped into their new HBO film, Wizard of Lies, which has been described as a behind the scenes look at Bernie Madoff‘s Ponzi scheme, how the public portrayed it, and how it affected his family, as well as the victims. In the first photo, Michelle takes on Ruth Madoff, looking unrecognizable and supportive behind her monogrammed-slipper-wearing husband.

We haven’t heard too much about the movie, except the casting and we can tell from the photo that it’s going to be good. Hank Azaria joined the cast today to take on the role of Bernie’s right-hand man, Frank Dipascali, who referred to himself as “the director of options trading” and CFO. Frank passed away of cancer just four months before Bernie’s sentencing, and he was one of only five of the employees to be convicted of crimes.  Alessandro Nivola has also joined the film to play Bernie’s older son, Mark Madoff, who committed suicide in 2010.

Inside Ruth & Bernie’s Life

In 2011, Ruth went on 60 Minutes and revealed that she and her husband considered suicide in 2008, on Christmas Eve, after all the hate they were getting. “It was so horrendous what was happening,” Ruth said on 60 Minutes. “We had terrible phone calls. Hate mail, just beyond anything and I said ‘…I just can’t go on anymore.'” With that, they took many pills, including Ambien and possibly Klonopin.

“We took pills and woke up the next day. It was very impulsive and I am glad we woke up,” she added. Her son, Andrew Madoff, who passed away from cancer in 2014, also added that she had sent him sentimental valuables as well. “She told me that she and my father had planned to kill themselves. They put that package together beforehand and sent it out.”

— Emily Longeretta
Follow @emilylongeretta