Filmmaker Martin Scorsese has joined director Paul Schrader's upcoming drama movie The Basics of Philosophy as an executive producer ahead of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
International sales rights for the feature film have been acquired by Noora Films. The project reunites Scorsese with Schrader, marking their latest high-profile collaboration after decades of work together in cinema.
Scorsese and Schrader established one of the most celebrated director and screenwriter partnerships in Hollywood during the 1970s and 1980s. Together, they created cinematic classics including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Last Temptation of Christ.
The new drama represents the second time Scorsese has taken an executive producer role on a film directed by Schrader. He previously served as executive producer on Schrader's 2021 feature The Card Counter, which also premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Cast and storyline
The Basics of Philosophy features an ensemble cast led by Jack Huston, Sofia Boutella, Daniel Zovatto, Bill Pullman, Dana Delany, Shiloh Fernandez, and Karl Glusman.
Written by Schrader, the story centers on a repressed philosophy professor who struggles with intense remorse over a past decision. His internal crisis deepens when his former victim unexpectedly reappears in his life.
The movie forms part of Schrader's thematic trilogy titled Man in a Room, a series of character studies that traces its origin to his screenplay for Taxi Driver. The trilogy includes First Reformed, The Card Counter, and Master Gardener.
Following leading roles by Ethan Hawke in First Reformed, Oscar Isaac in The Card Counter, and Joel Edgerton in Master Gardener, Huston plays the latest protagonist in the sequence. His character quietly withdraws into a room, keeping a personal diary as his sole companion.
Production team and future projects
Production for The Basics of Philosophy is co-handled by Braxton Pope through Film Maudit alongside David M. Wulf of Redline Entertainment. Pope and Wulf previously collaborated with Schrader on The Card Counter, which was released by Focus Features.
Industry publication Deadline reported on social media platform X that Noora Films had joined the project for international sales representation alongside Scorsese's executive producer appointment.
Film site World of Reel reported that Schrader is also preparing to begin production immediately on his next movie project, titled Non Compos Mentis.
The upcoming feature Non Compos Mentis will star Liam Hemsworth, Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Pidgeon, and Diane Wiest.
