Martin Scorsesethe Oscar-winning filmmaker responsible for some of cinema’s most iconic works, had planned to begin shooting two highly-anticipated films back-to-back this year.
One was a biblical epic, The life of Jesusbased on the novel by Shsaku End from 1973, and the other was a biopic about the legendary singer Frank SinatraHowever, both projects have been postponed and neither will film this year.
Scorsese’s “Life of Jesus” was expected to be the first of the two projects to go into production. No official cast has been announced, though.
Scorsese is committed to making the film about the Christian leader, which he is reportedly financing independently. He took a similar approach to his 2016 epic drama Silencealso adapted from a novel by Endo. The filmmaker had hoped to shoot in Israel, Italy and Egypt, but these locations have yet to be confirmed.
Based on Endo’s novel, The Life of Jesus promises to explore the complex human and divine aspects of Christ, much like Scorsese’s previous work on The Last Temptation of ChristNo official cast has been announced for the film, but notable names such as Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield are hovering around the project.
Martin Scorsese’s Frank Sinatra film
As for the Sinatra biopic, which has generated much buzz in the industry, at one point it looked like the film was moving ahead and was slated for a November release. According to multiple sources purportedly involved with the production, craftsmen and other key stakeholders who had signed on to the Sinatra project were notified in mid-August that the November start date had been cancelled and not rescheduled.
Scorsese has been planning to bring the singer’s life to the big screen since the project was first announced in 2009. That version was set to be produced by Universal Pictures and Mandalay Pictures, with Phil Alden Robinson writing the script. No studio has signed on yet, though Apple and Sony were rumored to be in the mix.
One of the key questions hanging over the Sinatra film is whether it has received the blessing of the Sinatra heirs, who control his daughter. Tina SinatraThe heirs’ approval is crucial, given that the film would delve into a vulnerable period in the singer’s life.
It is rumored that Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence are in negotiations to star in the film, which would focus on Sinatra’s tumultuous marriage to the actress. Ava Gardnera relationship that shook Hollywood and contributed to the dissolution of his first marriage with Nancy Barbatomother of Sinatra’s daughter Tina. Without official approval from the family, the film’s future remains uncertain.
Despite these delays, Scorsese, now 81, still has plenty to do. The auteur is keeping busy with plenty of credits as an executive producer, including The aroma of freshly cut grass of Celina Murgaa drama about adultery that premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
Source: Ambito
