Defamer insists it’s just a joke that got out of hand, but I’d rather blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol imbibed by Martin Scorsese’s casting director. I’m onboard with the idea — it’d be fascinating to watch — but only if they go the whole nine yards. Co-starring Don Cheadle as Dean Martin, Antonio Banderas as Joey Bishop, Freida Pinto as Ava Gardner, and, of course, Joe Pesci as Sammy Davis Jr.

Foxx, who won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 film Ray, reportedly considered to be “perfect” for the role. If he is chosen for the part, it will be one of the most prominent examples of “colour-blind” casting in Hollywood history.

Also in the running are George Clooney, Leonardo di Caprio, Harry Connick Jnr and Justin Timberlake.

But an unnamed source told the Daily Express: “Cool is colour-blind.

Jamie would seem to be born to the role.”

Hey, he’d be better than Timberlake. Just so we’re clear here, we’re not talking about Foxx in freaky-deaky whiteface a la Eddie Murphy in the legendary “White Like Me” sketch, right? I’m seeing this as more of a “Down to Earth” concept thing in which cultural constructs like racial identity are neutralized to try to find the essence of Frank. The mob scenes alone would be worth the price of admission.