Principal photography begins today on EuropaCorp and Relativity's action-comedy Malavita, directed by Luc Besson (Taken, Transporter, The Fifth Element) and starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron and John D'Leo.

Collaborating with Besson behind the scenes are director of photography Thierry Arbogast (BesThe Fifth Element), production designer Hugues Tissandier (Taken), sound editor Ken Yasumoto (The Transporter), costume designer Olivier Bériot (Taken) and editor Julien Rey (The Lady).

Malavita is the story of the Manzonis, a notorious mafia family who gets relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program. While they do their best to fit in, old habits die hard and they soon find themselves handling things the "family" way.

Filming commenced in Normandy and will continue in France at La Cité du Cinéma, where the brand new Studios de Paris are located. Additional shooting will take place in New York. The film will bow in 2013 with Relativity handling US distribution as well as working with its foreign output partners on the film’s release in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Greece, Thailand and CIS. EuropaCorp will take on distribution in France and handle international sales.

The script is adapted by Besson from the book "Badfellas" by author Tonino Benacquista. Virginie Besson-Silla (From Paris With Love) from EuropaCorp is producing. Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) is producing, while the studio's Tucker Tooley (Immortals) will executive produce.

(Photo Credit: WENN.com)