“We have a more ambitious idea, hopefully, to make it a two-part type of film or two films,” he continued. “It’s an idea that came about from Eric Roth to combine these movies using the footage from ‘Paint Houses’ to do another kind of a [film that is] reminiscent of a kind of ’8 1/2,’ ‘La Dolce Vita,’ [a] certain kind of biographical, semi-biographical type of Hollywood movie — a director and the actor — based on things Marty and I have experienced and kind of overlapping them.”

De Niro goes on to talk about the completed script: “Steve Zaillian wrote the first script, which is terrific.”  He continued, “The other part, Eric [Roth] is supposed to do it. And we’re hoping to move these things together.”

THR reports that Fincher will executive produce with writer Eric Roth (“Benjamin Button”) and that the political drama will be condensed into a one hour made-for-TV movie.

The original series was a 1990 political thriller adapted by Andrew Davies for the BBC from Michael Dobbs’ acclaimed novel, which centers on a British politician vying for the top job in the land during the twilight of Margaret Thatcher’s run as prime minister.  Ian Richardson starred.  Dobbs is a former Conservative Party chief of staff.

“David Fincher, whose body of work speaks for itself, is sure to put an unforgettable stamp on the celebrated British series,” MRC CEO Modi Wiczyk told THR.

Davies, Dobbs and producer Josh Donen (“Spider-Man 4″) will join Fincher and Roth as executive producers.