Leonardo DiCaprio Developing 1980s Mafia Drama for Showtime

The untitled drama is being written by 'Ray Donovan's' Brett Johnson. AP Images/Invision

The untitled drama is being written by 'Ray Donovan's' Brett Johnson.

Showtime is going back to the '80s with Leonardo DiCaprio.

The premium cable network is teaming with DiCaprio and Ray Donovan writer Brett Johnson for an untitled drama exploring the Mafia, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The drama traces a decade-long relationship between an unstable mafia captain and a rogue federal agent, each violating the strict codes of their respective organizations. Set in 1980s Brooklyn, the potential series examines the corrosive power the Wall Street era had on both the mafia and the FBI.

Johnson is set to pen the script and exec produce alongside DiCaprio and his Appian Way production president Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Ray Donovan's Bryan Zuriff, Charles Pacheco, Jennifer Erwin and Dan Pearson.

The Showtime drama marks the latest TV foray for DiCaprio, who has a documentary feature deal with Netflix. The Wolf of Wall Street, Gangs of New York and The Departed alum recently teamed with Entertainment One for a TV adaptation of author Simon Toyne's The Searcher. A network is not yet attached.

Should the drama move forward at Showtime, it would join a roster of programming that includes The Affair, Homeland, Masters of Sex, Penny Dreadful, Shameless and the upcoming Billions.

TV Development

Lesley Goldberg