John Travolta is back and ready to get down to business in the latest gangster drama biopic, Gotti (2017), and the first trailer seems to be leaving some hopeful but some in doubt.

John Travolta, last seen as Robert Shapiro in the American Crime Story (2016-) TV series (for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor) and as Stanley in the film I Am Wrath (2016), stars in the title role as real-life crime boss John Gotti. The film will focus on his story as well as his relationship with his son, John Gotti Jr. (Spencer Rocco Lofranco). Travolta is bringing along his family here too, with his wife Kelly Preston portraying Mrs. Victoria Gotti, and his daughter Ella Bleu portraying Angel Gotti. One thing is for sure from this trailer: you don’t wanna mess with Gotti.

While some might think this movie looks a little too cheesy, over the top and a bit like a Lifetime Original Movie from this initial trailer, this writer is holding out hope for a great action and crime thriller. While it may not be a definite Oscar-nomination here for John Travolta, it does look like he is coming back to form, at least from a dramatic standpoint, hearkening back to roles like his iconic mob hit man Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), a full-fledged villain we have not seen from him in a while. While Gotti might not achieve the status of something like The Godfather (1972) or Goodfellas (1990), it should certainly earn an admirable place alongside films like Public Enemies (2009) or American Gangster (2007).

Directed by Kevin Connolly (Entourage (2004-11)), Gotti will star John Travolta (Grease (1978)), Spencer Rocco Lofranco (Unbroken (2014)), Kelly Preston (Jerry Maguire (1996)), Stacy Keach (American History X (1998)), and Ella Bleu Travolta (Old Dogs (2009)), and breaks into theaters this holiday season on December 15, 2017.

Check out the first trailer here!

Gotti Trailer