Coming off the massive critical success of “Killers of The Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese is reexamining his next potential options. While it briefly seemed like Scorsese’s next movie would be an adaptation of the high seas pic “The Wager” with current muse Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) attached to star, a long-developing project from years ago seems to have circled back to his main interest. Variety reports that Scorsese’s long-gestating biopic of Frank Sinatra is something he’s not given up on, and, according to the outlet’s sources, has added Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook”) in the role of Ava Gardner, Sinatra’s second wife.
What is holding “Sinatra” back from going into production, and what may have held it back all these years? Well, apparently, Tina Sinatra, daughter of Frank, controls her father’s estate and has yet to give Scorsese the family/estate’s blessing. If you’re not familiar with the real-life celebrity drama from that era, it was Gardner who broke up Sinatra’s marriage to Nancy Barbato, Tina’s mother, and would likely be a big part of the narrative in the biopic.
Several suitors are reportedly interested in the “Sinatra” project, including Apple Studios, which collaborated with Scorsese on the aforementioned “Killers Of The Flower Moon.” Still, apparently, Sony Pictures is the current frontrunner to land it. Whoever does pick up the film will have two of the world’s biggest stars attached. DiCaprio and Lawrence previously worked together on the Adam McKay-directed end-of-the-world satire “Don’t Look Up.”
Scorsese’s idea to direct a Frank Sinatra film starring Leonardo DiCaprio goes back two decades and maybe as far back as 2008 or earlier. The film seemed to gain traction in the late aughts and early 2010s but then disappeared from view, perhaps because of Tina Sinatra’s controlling interest. Don’t bet on this one happening yet, but with names attached to star, especially the addition of Lawrence, perhaps that could all suddenly change.
On the immediate horizon for Scorsese is a planned collaboration with Steven Spielberg on a “Cape Fear” TV series for Apple TV+. Both filmmakers will executive produce the project, though it’s unclear whether either will direct any episodes.