Martin Scorsese Planning To Make 'Silence' Next (Again), Holds Table Read Of 'The Irishman'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
January 18, 2013 3:20 PM
9 Comments

The last time Martin Scorsese promised his long developing dream project "Silence" was "next," was after he had wrapped on "Hugo." But as always, something else came first, and this time it was his upcoming "The Wolf Of Wall Street," which started shooting last summer and only wrapped earlier this week. But as you might recall, over the summer Scorsese was sued by Cecchi Gori Pictures, the production company who have been backing development, as they were more or less finally fed up of seeing Scorsese do everything but make "Silence." Perhaps because of that little legal battle, the director is finally promising to make it next.

In case you forgot, the film is an adaptation of Shusaku Endo's novel about two 17th century Jesuit priests who face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity. Not exactly the stuff of tentpoles, but fascainting material nonetheless, and if you're Scorsese you can get the kind of actors who make it sellable (Daniel Day-Lewis, Benicio Del Toro and Gael Garcia Bernal linked to roles early on). But what about "The Irishman"? His long awaited reteaming with Robert De Niro? Well, it's moving along.

Apparently, Scorese recently held a table read at the Tribeca Film Center to help entice investors to finance the project that is set up at Paramount. The true story centers on Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a WWII veteran who led a colorful life as a high ranking officer in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters while also dabbling in organized crime as a highly-sought-after hitman. He reportedly also had ties to the deaths of President Kennedy and Jimmy Hoffa, the latter who would be played by Al Pacino with Joe Pesci set for a role as well.

But as always, we'll see if this plan actually sticks. Scorese has also long been kicking around a Frank Sinatra biopic and who knows if something like 'Wolf' will come out of the blue and grab his attention first. But frankly, we'd love to see him finally make "Silence" and perhaps use a completely different set of cinematic tools in the process. [Deadline]

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More: Silence, Martin Scorsese, The Irishman

9 Comments

| Reply
GERARD KENNELLY | March 12, 2013 11:48 AMReply

i would cast philip seymour hoffman as jimmy hoffa

i bought the book I HEAR YOU PAINT HOUSES

might read it tonight :)
ST STP | February 24, 2013 4:04 AMReply

Sideshow DISS----tractions.

Meanwhile, as Globalist imploded POST America
is surely but years, months away from debt receivership
to RED CHINA -----De NIro is looking ever more like STALIN.

The REAL artist would be chomping at the bit. . .
Ian | January 19, 2013 9:21 PMReply

Silence has already been adapted to film by the actually Japanese director the legendary Shinoda Masahiro in 1971. A better director then than Scorsese is now, for sure. Leave it alone, Scorsese.
BEF | January 19, 2013 2:04 PMReply

Strike while DDL is the $150 million at the box office leading man! Oh please shoot this next, and please keep that cast in tact.
Mike | January 19, 2013 1:56 AMReply

My theory is that Scorsese really doesn't want to do The Irishman but doesn't want to tell De Niro no. Sounds like De Niro is already too old to play the part. But don't get me wrong, if it ever gets made I'll be there on day 1!!
Yod | January 20, 2013 10:45 AM

Man, some people come up with some stupid stuff.
gert | January 18, 2013 4:03 PMReply

so Megan Ellison is not a Scorsese fan eh, damn shame
Bale | January 18, 2013 4:34 PM

She must be!f She digs P.T. Anderson, David O. Russell, John Hillcoat - all heavily influenced by Scorsese.
CB | January 18, 2013 3:42 PMReply

Seriously, The Irishman will never get made if Scorsese keeps pushing it again and again. De Niro, Pacino and Pesci aren't getting any younger. But I'm also dying to see Silence get made.