Martin Scorsese really isn’t a fan of Marvel films, as has been documented many, many, many times previously. However, the films he makes do share one major commonality with those superhero blockbusters that the director feels dominate the multiplex—budget. And it appears that the legendary filmmaker’s desire for a large budget is putting him in talks with streaming platforms, yet again.
According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Scorsese is currently in discussions with Apple, Netflix, and other platforms for financing and distribution for his new film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Why does the filmmaker need to bring in major spenders like Netflix and Apple? Well, simply put, the filmmaker reportedly needs money. Lots and lots of money. $200 million, in fact.
The report claims that ballooning costs on the true-crime drama is putting Scorsese in a position where he’s once again looking for a studio that is willing to spend a large amount of cash on a passion project, similar to what happened with his previous film, “The Irishman,” which reportedly saw a budget climb over $150 million. (At that time, the costs seemed to be attributed to post-production work, specifically, the major amount of CGI used to de-age the characters.)
READ MORE: Martin Scorsese Calls ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ A “Western” With A “Timeless” Message
“Killers of the Flower Moon” follows the true story of the deaths of Native American members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s. The investigation into those crimes was given to the group of federal officers that would later go on to form the FBI.
Back in 2019, Paramount became attached to the project as the financier and distributor. However, the report from WSJ says that the studio is concerned by the price tag and is allowing Scorsese and his team the option to speak with other studios to secure a better deal. If unsuccessful, there is still the option that Paramount will remain attached, but will likely add another partner to help split the costs.
Obviously, discussing the idea of distribution with streaming companies does open up Scorsese to once again have to fight for theatrical release. He remained largely unsuccessful in that venture with “The Irishman,” as the film was only given a short run in theaters before landing on Netflix. However, with Apple, it’s unclear how the company would release the film. Previously, it’s been reported that the tech company is more open to exclusive theatrical runs, similar to how Amazon handles films. However, with the company’s streaming service struggling to gain a foothold in the industry, an exclusive like “Killers of the Flower Moon” might be enticing enough to keep on the streaming service.
Again, all this is speculation. We’ll still have to see what happens. But it does appear that Scorsese is once again asking for a Marvel-sized budget in an industry that doesn’t feel comfortable shelling that out unless there are capes, Infinity Stones, and the possibility for more than $1 billion.
