Robert De Niro Is Not Reprising His ‘Taxi Driver’ Role for His Upcoming Uber Ad: Source

Although considered by many to be one his most seminal roles, Robert De Niro is leaving Travis Bickle in the rearview mirror... for now, at least.

A source tells The Messenger that the Academy Award winner will not be reprising his role from 1976's Taxi Driver or using any of the character's lines for his upcoming Uber commercial, despite previous reports.

However, according to an Uber spokesperson, De Niro will indeed star in an ad filming "in London for a new Uber UK campaign, which will launch later in the year."

De Niro starred in the Martin Scorsese film as a disturbed Vietnam War veteran who becomes increasingly detached from reality while driving his cab around the morally declining streets of New York City at night.

Reports that De Niro will briefly step back into his Oscar-nominated role came amid the Screen Actors Guild's (SAG-AFTRA) ongoing strike, after the union joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on the picket lines in July.

As the unions negotiate a fair deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios, SAG and WGA members are allowed to participate in smaller commercial shoots and union-approved film productions, but they are not allowed to promote or reference previous projects made under an expired contract.

After 100 days of striking, the WGA recently had renewed talks, and the AMPTP has since presented a counterproposal. It is the first double strike for both Hollywood unions since 1960 when Ronald Reagan was SAG President.

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) reached a deal with the AMPTP in early June, which has since been ratified.