Martin Scorsese to direct biopics on Jesus and Frank Sinatra

We had earlier reported that Martin Scorsese announced a project on the life of Jesus Christ. While the screenplay is complete, the shoot of the film will happen alongside another film that he will be directing about legendary singer Frank Sinatra.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker intends to finance the biopic on Jesus titled Life of Jesus independently, bypassing the studio system. The film will be based on Shūsaku Endō’s 1973 book. Scorsese took the same approach with the 2016 drama Silence (which also was adapted from an Endō novel). Andrew Garfield, who worked with Scorsese in Silence, is expected to join the project. However, it remains uncertain whether Garfield will portray the eponymous character or one of his disciples.

Miles Teller is also rumored to be associated with the project, with production starting in late 2024. The shoot is expected to take place in Israel, Italy and Egypt.

With the Sinatra biopic, Scorsese is reportedly considering his frequent collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio to portray Sinatra, with Jennifer Lawrence potentially playing Ava Gardner, Sinatra's second wife. However, the late singer's daughter has not given her approval for the film. With several notable leads as part of the project, major studios and streamers are eyeing to finance the film. While Apple financed Scorsese's latest The Killers of The Flower Moon, Sony is said to be the frontrunner to secure this much anticipated project.

Scorsese is not done yet. He will be joining hands with Steven Spielberg for an Apple TV+ series, Cape Fear. Reportedly, the duo will executive produce the project, which will be based on the 1991 and 1962 Universal movies. This will mark a reuinion for Scorsese and Spielberg as they worked on the namesake 1991 film. Starring Robert De Niro, the film was directed by Scorsese and produced by Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment.