What’s next for Martin Scorsese after “Killers Of The Flower Moon“? Well, it’s several things, including another Shūsaku Endō adaptation. Variety reports that Scorsese is circling the Japanese author’s 1973 novel “Life Of Jesus” as one of two films he plans to shoot back to back. The other project? Scorsese’s long-gestating Frank Sinatra biopic, which recently added Jennifer Lawrence to its cast list.
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But with Scorsese reportedly waiting for the Sinatra estate’s blessing to move ahead with that picture, he’ll likely shoot “Life Of Jesus” first. And the director has two actors in mind for that film: Andrew Garfield and Miles Teller. Scorsese fans will remember that Garfield starred in the director’s 2016 film “Silence,” Scorsese’s first Endō adaptation, so there’s an affinity with that casting choice. But Teller is the eyebrow-raiser here, an actor who’s never worked with Scorsese and isn’t exactly known for serious dramatic roles. As for what roles Scorsese has in mind for either actor? That’s unclear right now, but casting news should drop soon, as Scorsese plans to shoot the picture later this year in Israel, Italy, and Egypt.
As for the Sinatra biopic, Scorsese isn’t giving up on it, but he needs the greenlight from daughter Tina Sinatra before he moves ahead with that one. And with several studios circling the film and offering a giant budget, including frontrunner Sony Pictures, that situation could change soon. All told, that makes three upcoming films for the octogenarian director: this film, “Life Of Jesus, and “The Wager,” which Scorsese bought the rights to two summers ago. But “Life Of Jesus” looks like the only solid and immediate option Scorsese has for now. Scorsese also serves as co-executive producer with Steven Spielberg on Apple TV+‘s upcoming series remake of “Cape Fear.”
That’s not a bad slate at all for Scorsese, now 81, but stay tuned on whether he’ll indeed direct “Life Of Jesus” and his Sinatra biopic back to back.
