Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio Plan Sinatra Biopic

The director is aiming to make two movies back to back, with Jennifer Lawrence joining the Sinatra biopic and a film about Jesus also in the works.

(Left) Leonardo DiCaprio attends the 'Don't Look Up' World Premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 05, 2021 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix. (Right) Frank Sinatra in 'The Detective.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Preview:

Martin Scorsese wants to make two new movies, one about Jesus and one about Frank Sinatra.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence are aboard the Sinatra biopic.
Both movies are facing challenges right now.

He may not have taken home a big haul of awards for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, but Martin Scorsese shows no sign of backing away from making movies. He’s got two big projects –– both of which have been percolating on his To Do list for a few years –– that he’s looking to now shoot back to back.

And one, a drama about a particularly fractious time in legendary crooner Frank Sinatra’s personal life, is a particular passion project, and one that he’s finally pushing to put together with Leonardo DiCaprio (of course!) and Jennifer Lawrence starring. So let’s take a look at these two new potential movies, shall we?

What is Martin Scorsese’s Frank Sinatra biopic?

Frank Sinatra in 'Lady in Cement.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

When he was out promoting his 2016 religious drama ‘Silence’, Scorsese dropped word that he had been looking to make a Frank Sinatra film with DiCaprio starring. It had been in development since at least 2011, with ‘Field of Dreams’ Phil Alden Robinson writing a script.

Little is known about the exact story at the time, but since Lawrence is on to be Ava Gardner, who infamously broke up Sinatra’s marriage to Nancy Barbato (and became his second wife), you can imagine why this one hit a snag with the singer’s family. Tina Sinatra controls the late performer’s estate, and she seems none too happy with Scorsese’s plans.

Apple, which handed the director a $215 million budget for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is, according to Variety, looking to stay in business with the director, though Sony is currently the front-runner to make the movie.

Yet the director is still aiming to make this movie once he’s wrapped on the Jesus film. Which brings us to that…

What is Martin Scorsese’s new film about Jesus?

'Killers of the Flower Moon' director Martin Scorsese.

In the same report about the Sinatra film, Variety mentions that Scorsese would first want to revisit the life of Jesus, who he infamously brought to screens in 1988’s ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’.

‘Life of Jesus,’, which Scorsese has been drumming up independent financing to make, would be based on Shūsaku Endō’s 1973 book. It’s the same approach he took to ‘Silence’ (which also was adapted from an Endō novel). And it might also have another ‘Silence’ connection, since one of that film’s stars, Andrew Garfield, is being considered for the Jesus project, though it’s unclear if the 40-year-old is being eyed for the titular role or to play one of the disciples. Miles Teller has also been linked to the film, which Scorsese wants to kick off shooting later this year in Israel, Italy and Egypt.

That first location is the one that might cause the most trouble, since the current war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas is affecting the region.

We’ll see if this either film truly gets moving at last, but Scorsese certainly seems committed to having them both on screen before he retires (take that, Quentin Tarantino!)

When would either new Scorsese film hit theaters?

No details are available for either film’s release plans, especially since they don’t yet have confirmed distribution –– or even schedules at this point.

Martin Scorsese arrives on the red carpet of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Mike Baker ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.