First Official Image: Andrew Garfield In Martin Scorsese's 'Silence'

Silence“The subject matter presented by Shusaku Endo was in my life since I was very, very young,” Martin Scorsese told press today about his upcoming adaptation of the author’s "Silence." “I was very much involved in religion, I was raised in a strong Catholic family. … Further reflection is how [we] want to lead our life in the Christian faith … so ultimately this book drew my attention when it was given to me in 1988.” And indeed, anyone who is even a vague fan of the filmmaker knows this has been his passion project for decades.

READ MORE: Howard Shore To Score Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence’

Well, it’s now filming, and today the first official image from the production has been revealed. Also featuring Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano, and Adam Driver, the film follows two 17th-century Jesuit priests who face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and spread the gospel of Christianity.

The film is slated for release in 2016.