81-year-old Martin Scorsese still has no intention of putting down the camera! Following his ambitious historical epic Killers of the Flower Moon due out in October 2023, the New York maestro has already moved on to other projects!
First of all, the man we call Marty is soon to begin filming a feature film about Jesus, 36 years after the last temptation of Christ. In May 2023, during a visit to Rome, Scorsese met with Pope Francis. Then the filmmaker expressed his desire to make a film about Jesus.
March’s last temptation
“I responded to the Pope’s call to artists in the only way I know how: I imagined and wrote a script for a film about Jesus.” The director revealed. At the press conference held in the Vatican, Scorsese added that he “I was going to meet you” this project.
In January 2024, the 81-year-old artist announced the news about this feature film on the microphone. LA Times. First of all, the New Yorker made sure that his story “Explores the teachings of Christ without proselytizing.”
It will be an adaptation of a book written by Shusaku Endo: The life of Jesus. Scorsese already brought the work of the Japanese author to the screen in 2016 with Silence. After 3h29 of The Irishman and 3h26 of Killers of the Flower Moon, the director creates a surprise and announces that his new project will last only 80 minutes, or 1h20.
If this length is confirmed, it will be Scorsese’s record: so far, his shortest film is his first, Who’s Knocking at My Door, made in 1967 (1h30). “I’m trying to find new ways to make Christianity more accessible and remove all the negativity associated with it because of the church”he explained.
“Now, you say the word ‘religion’ and everybody jumps because it has disappointed in so many ways. But that doesn’t mean the initial impulse was bad. Think about it. You can reject religion, but it can change the way. You live even if you reject it.“, he concluded.
Jesus is coming back!
The story of the feature film promises to surprise us, as it evokes the life of Jesus, but will be developed in our time. Scorsese completed the screenplay, which was written in collaboration with critic and filmmaker Kent Jones. He plans to shoot it at the end of the year.
After the release of this work on Jesus Christ, Scorsese will revive Arlesien: his biopic on Frank Sinatra. According to Variety, Leonardo DiCaprio will play the famous artist opposite Jennifer Lawrence, who will play his second wife, Ava Gardner. Sony Pictures is set to produce this biopic.
Martin Scorsese also has another project with DiCaprio in the works: Betting Sites. This is an adaptation of the book by David Grann, who is already the author American noteThe work that inspired Killers of the Flower Moon.
Last year, Apple acquired the rights (according to the specialized press for several million dollars) to his new book. Wager Shipwrecks, available from April 2023 in the United States and published last August in France. The acclaimed novel remained the No. 3 bestseller in the essay category fourteen weeks after publication.
According to the New York Times, the book has already sold tens of thousands of copies and is at the top of their bestseller list. Former President Barack Obama also included it on his traditional summer reading list.
David Grann is now known as a great specialist in historical research. He is also considered one of the masters of literary journalism. In 2016, he already broke all records after selling the rights to Killers of Flower Moon to Apple TV for $5 million.
Based on a true story
Based on a true story, Les Naufragés du Wager takes place in 1740. Her Majesty’s ship of the line, HMS Wager, with 250 officers and crew, is dispatched to the detachment under Commodore Anson on a secret mission. The cargo of the galleon of the Spanish Empire was plundered. After passing Cape Horn, the Wager ship sank.
A few unfortunate people survived on a deserted island off the coast of Patagonia. As the chaos and death pile up, with almost no living resources and hostile conditions, some people turn to cannibalism, a mutiny breaks out, and the captain commits murder in front of witnesses. The three groups clashed over escape strategies.
Although everyone believed that the entire crew of the Wager had disappeared, the first group of 29 survivors reappeared in Brazil 283 days after the shipwreck. Three more survivors then reached Brazil 3 and a half months later. But as soon as they return to Anglican lands, another war begins, this time for stories to save his honor and life in front of the admiral and the general public.
Note that Scorsese has a Theodore Roosevelt biopic in the works; Leonardo DiCaprio has been associated with this project for many years. At the moment, his film about Jesus is the priority. For the rest, we hope Marty stays in shape to achieve all that he dreams of!
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
