Martin Scorsese's ‘Home' Lands at Apple Studios

So, it turns out that Martin Scorsese, Kent Jones and Todd Field are very serious in their intentions of adapting author Marilynne Robinson’s acclaimed “Gilead” novels.

Scorsese is first up as he’s set to direct “Home,” with Field and Jones writing the screenplay. I was told this morning that Apple Studios has landed the film, and that the plan is shoot it in early 2025. A cast is being quietly assembled, with one key A-lister already lined up for the lead role.

Scorsese previously teamed up with Apple on “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and is executive producing their “Cape Fear” series, starring Javier Bardem, which had been announced yesterday. “Killers of the Flower Moon” had a robust theatrical rollout last fall, and one would expect the same thing to happen for “Home.”

“Home” will probably be a more intimate film for Scorsese, not as epic as the previous ones of the last 20 years, most of which were these big-budget epics. I presume this will be a very faithful retelling of Robinson’s prize-winning novel. Here’s the synopsis:

The Reverend Boughton’s hell-raising son, Jack, has come home after twenty years away. Artful and devious in his youth, now an alcoholic carrying two decades worth of secrets, he is perpetually at odds with his traditionalist father, though he remains his most beloved child. As Jack tries to make peace with his father, he begins to forge an intense bond with his sister Glory, herself returning home with a broken heart and turbulent past.

Scorsese, Field and Jones are also turning Robinson’s “Jack” into a screenplay and, I’m told, Field is eyeing to adapt “Gilead” as his next film. It should be noted that Robinson used characters and events from her landmark 2004 novel “Gilead” to publish three more books: “Home” (2008) “Lila” (2014) and “Jack” (2020).

In “Gilead,” an aged narrator, Ames, who has lived his entire life in a small Iowa town, is writing down his life story for his young son. The story of “Gilead” and Ames grew into this series of books, with each of those novels retelling the events of “Gilead” from the perspective of a different character.

There is no word yet on who would direct “Jack,” maybe Jones? With that said, what we’re seeing here is a uniquely ambitious trilogy taking shape. Jones, a former film critic, directed 2019’s critically acclaimed low-budget indie “Diane,” and is set to shoot his sophomore effort —“Late Fame” —next year.

Scorsese’s reps and Apple were reached for comment, but were unavailable to respond as of this publishing. I’ll update the article accordingly.