INTRODUCING ‘THE DON OF THE DEAD’ – AN ORIGINAL FEATURE SCREENPLAY SPANNING 1871-1933. A PROHIBITION-ERA MAFIA FAMILY STORY WITH SHOCKING ACID-TRIP ZOMBIE ENDING. SEEKING PRODUCERS & PUBLISHERS.

LOGLINE >>
“Born in 1871 Sicily to a modest but skillful farming family, Anton Capuzzo is orphaned by the age of nine and raised by his powerful Godfather, Don Carlo Vespone. As an adult, Anton is betrayed, outcaste, widowed, and driven from his homeland. Leaving for a better life in America with his five loyal sons, together they build a dominant empire in prohibition-era New York. All ending in 1933 with a horrific twist on tragic factual events.”

“This story concept is something I’m really proud of. It feels like a ticking time-bomb waiting to be discovered by the right person. Even though it took 10 years to complete it. When I first started writing, I thought the title would lead to a parody mobster/horror spoof. But I was wrong. I followed the characters. Things got dark. Poetic. Violent. And in the end, psychedelic. Nothing like this has ever been done before, not at this scale, in this time period, blending these two wildly popular genres. The most in-depth mafia origin story since The Godfather; the most ambitious and suspenseful zombie story since World War Z or 28 Days later. I’d like to introduce you to Don Anton Capuzzo. He is, THE DON OF THE DEAD.”

— WRITER RW MARKS

CONCEPT & CONTACTS >>

Primarily a screenplay, but we are considering a graphic novel adaptation to better explore the more gruesome details, vivid hallucinogenic visions and gore (especially by oldest brother Renato Capuzzo during his torturous zombie transition), and additional story-lines beyond the full script. The Old World Italy scenes early in the story would be beautiful to see illustrated as well. Starting with individual panels of short script excerpts, then building to a more developed series with time. Looking to work with anyone who is interested in the story and willing to spend some time with this potentially massive project.

Also seeking producers or studios interested to work towards a feature length Hollywood production or Netflix series. Sales or collaborations welcome. Open to additional writers or notes. Please email CapuzzoEmpire@gmail.com to inquire.

Read our two part interview with writer RW Marks about the 10 year journey to finish the story.
Limited Edition NFT Artwork by Jeff Dywelska [other artists TBA]
Official TDOTD Collection on OpenSea [early development]
Official TDOTD Twitter @CapuzzoEmpire
Official TDOTD Website www.TheDonoftheDead.com [launch date TBA]
Represented by RWAgency.space

Graphic Novel Illustrators needed. Please email CapuzzoEmpire@gmail.com if interested in working on, or contributing to this large scale story set in the prohibition period. Must love horror. History, drama, suspense, action, late 1800’s Italian countryside, crop farming, 1920’s New York scenes, roof-top gardening, and heavy psychedelic zombie outbreak combine for a story that spans decades of time. A twisted, ultimate tragedy, but with moments of great beauty and depth throughout.

“Un inferno da sbornia.” ☠🥃🔥

ORIGINAL OUTLINE. 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING. CLICHE COFFEE RING INCLUDED.
YOU CAN TRY, BUT IT MAY NOT HELP MUCH.
NOVEMBER 9th 1932, MAYORAL ELECTION RESULTS. VESPONE WINS IN A LANDSLIDE.
A MYSTERIOUS AND ANONYMOUS ADVERT PLACED IN THE SAME NY REGISTER ISSUE SEEN ABOVE. IT WOULD BE IT’S LAST. PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED THE DAY BEFORE THE UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS THAT END THIS STORY.
‘THE EYES, THE END’ — EARLY ARTWORK DEVELOPMENT FOR DON ANTON CAPUZZO
RIP TO THE FATHER OF OUR MAIN VILLAIN, STEPHANO VESPONE. HIS ASSASINATION CREATED A VENGEFUL MONSTER IN HIS SON, AS HEIR TO HIS POWERFUL FATHER’S ESTATE.
“GOODBYE ADELE” — EARLY ARTWORK DEVELOPMENT. ANTON CAPUZZO MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, AND MUST LEAVE FOR AMERICA WITHOUT HER. THEIR FIVE BOYS DEPENDING ON HIM TO CREATE A LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD.
RIP TO THE WIFE OF ANTON AND FORMER MISTRESS OF HIS ENEMY, STEPHANO VESPONE. DENIED MEDICAL TREATMENT, A GHASTLY SICKNESS TOOK HER LIFE BEFORE SHE COULD TRAVEL TO AMERICA WITH HER FAMILY.
THE FIRST TEASER TRAILER FOR ‘TDOTD’ — AN ILLUSTRATION, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO, AND MUSIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN JEFF DYWELSKA & ROBERT MARKS

Please contact CapuzzoEmpire@gmail.com for all pitch, production, or graphic novel inquiries. We need your help to get this story noticed, so please share this page with other mafia and zombie film fans until we connect with the right people to get this story on the big screen. 🎬📽

This page will continue to evolve, revealing more artwork and pieces to the deeply developed origin stories of both the Capuzzo and Vespone crime families. Our goal to bring this massive and mesmerizing story to life, either on screen on graphic novel. We also believe this would make a very unique NFT series, coupled with a unique and diverse gaming experience, complete with in-game crop farming, business creation, mafia wars, and psychedelic zombie outbreak survival. Definitely looking to build a team to help this deadly story come to life.

Thank you for reading. If you know anyone that would be interested to help, please reach out to us.

💙💙☠🌱