Robert De Niro had reportedly commissioned a script about a New York terror attack by a fugitive militant resembling Osama bin Laden, three years before the 9/11 twin tower bombings.

"The Godfather" legend had asked writer Larry Golin ("Dead Connection") to help him make the script for which De Niro had interviewed US and British intelligence agents, and even bin Laden's aides, reports Femalefirst.

According to the story, the terrorists conspired to blow up the Empire State Building. De Niro removed the terrorist plot after his eerie "premonition" came true. "It was a sad miss," said Golin.

The movie will still be made, featuring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and De Niro (who will also direct it), but without the terrorist angle.