‘Masters of the Universe’ Star Camila Mendes & Pete Davidson Spotted Together on the Set of ‘Tommy Karate’

Pete Davidson has spent years carving out a niche playing characters that lean into his lanky, off-kilter charm, from stoner comedies to semi-autobiographical dramedies. A true-crime mob thriller centered on one of Brooklyn’s most notorious killers was never the most obvious next step for the former ‘Saturday Night Live’ star, which is exactly what makes the project feel like such a significant swing for him.

That project, titled ‘Tommy Karate,‘ has been in the works for Davidson for more than three years, and it’s finally moving into production. The film centers on real-life Bonanno crime family killer Tommy Pitera, a man linked to as many as 60 murders who earned his nickname thanks to his background in martial arts.

Now, fresh set photos confirm just how far Davidson is going to disappear into the role. He and co-star Camila Mendes were spotted filming across Brooklyn this week, with Davidson sporting a dramatically altered look built around blue contact lenses, facial prosthetics, and a slicked-back ’70s-inspired hairstyle.

Photos from the Coney Island and Bay Ridge shoot show Davidson dressed in a period-appropriate suit for earlier scenes, before later switching into a much more intense look involving a satin jacket, fake blood, and visible bruising. Mendes, meanwhile, was seen alongside him in a pink glittering halter-top dress and heels, suggesting the two share scenes set against a glamorous nightlife backdrop within the film’s story.

‘Tommy Karate’ is based on Philip Carlo’s true crime book “The Butcher: Anatomy of a Mafia Psychopath,” chronicling the pursuit and eventual capture of Pitera, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 following convictions tied to six murders and a Brooklyn drug operation. He remains incarcerated today at United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy.

Justin Chon, known for directing ‘Pachinko,’ is helming the project and co-wrote the screenplay alongside Davidson and Joseph Gay. Paul Walter Hauser rounds out the cast as DEA Agent Jim Hunt, the real-life investigator credited with helping bring down Pitera, while Simon Rex also joins the ensemble.

Speaking with Deadline back in March when the project was first announced, Davidson called ‘Tommy Karate’ the greatest mob story never told, adding that playing a role like this felt like a dream job after years of developing the project behind the scenes. Chon echoed that sentiment in his own statement to the outlet, describing the film as an attempt to reimagine the gangster genre through a contemporary lens built on character, fresh visuals, and real consequence rather than nostalgia.

Mendes, best known for her years on ‘Riverdale,’ has been building out a diverse slate of upcoming projects alongside this one, including roles in ‘Masters of the Universe’ and ‘Baton,’ along with Guy Ritchie’s ‘Viva La Madness.’ Her involvement in ‘Tommy Karate’ adds another dramatic entry to a résumé that’s increasingly moved beyond her TV drama roots.

With production now visibly underway across New York City, fans are getting their first real glimpses of Davidson’s transformation into one of Brooklyn’s most infamous real-life criminals. ‘Tommy Karate’ isn’t expected to reach audiences until sometime in 2027, giving plenty of time for more set photos and details to emerge as filming continues.

The film also marks a notable step forward for Davidson as a producer and writer, not just a leading man taking on a demanding dramatic role. Having spent years shepherding the project from development through to an actual shoot, the actor’s hands-on involvement across multiple stages of production suggests just how personal this story has become to him.

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