Ruben Fleischer's breakthrough film, "Zombieland," became something of an instant horror-comedy classic and he's hoping "Gangster Squad" becomes one for the gangster genre too.
"Every generation has their iconic gangster film and we're hoping this will be the next one," the director says in a new featurette promoting the upcoming Warner Bros. release.
Also read: 'Gangster Squad' Opening Is Officially Moved to Jan. 11 [5]
Anthony Mackie and Michael Peña, who play two cops on the squad trying to take down gangster Mickey Cohen, seem to be setting their hopes pretty high too.
Forgetting that "The Departed" won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2007, Mackie is calling it "the first big gangster movie for this generation." Peña goes as far as to compare the action flick to "The Untouchables" and "The Godfather."
With an A-list cast -- led by Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Sean Penn -- and a $75 million budget, "Gangster Squad" is certainly "big," but whether or not it is in the same league as the many gangster greats that have come before it remains to be seen.
Based on the footage we have seen, the pulpy thriller should at least be explosively entertaining and viciously violent.
Watch the newest sneak peek: