Martin Scorsese keeps piling up the projects.
As I had exclusively reported a few months back, Scorsese’s “Home,” an adaptation of Marilynne Robinson’s acclaimed novel, had been acquired by Apple Studios and an A-list star was attached in the lead role.
Now we have Publisher’s Weekly confirming Leonardo DiCaprio’s casting, he’s set to star, and Todd Field’s involvement as writer-producer. Apparently, more details about this project are imminent:
Apple Original Films will develop Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead novels, with Martin Scorsese attached to write, direct, and produce, alongside filmmaker Todd Field, following a deal brokered by Ellen Levine of Trident Media Group and Susan Schulman of the eponymous literary agency.
Field, a multi–Academy Award nominee, is slated to produce alongside Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions, DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions, and LBI Entertainment, the firm run by Scorsese and DiCaprio’s talent manager, Rick Yorn.
Details have not yet been released about plans to adapt the remaining books in Robinson’s trilogy, but a year-old interview had Field confirmed as directing “Gilead,” and Kent Jones helming “Jack.”
The project is currently in development, and given DiCaprio’s busy schedule, which includes shooting Damien Chazelle’s next film in the summer, and promoting Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest, I wouldn’t expect this one to shoot anytime soon.
“Home” will probably be a more intimate film for Scorsese, not as epic as his 21st century output, most of which were these big-budget, 3-hour epics. I presume this will be a very faithful retelling of Robinson’s prize-winning novel, which is a meticulous character study. 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.
As for what Scorsese’s actual next project will be, it’s anybody’s guess. Scorsese is attached to numerous ones, all of which are in development. There’s “Home,” but also his recently announced untitled Hawaiian crime boss movie, starring DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, and Emily Blunt. Netflix is the current frontrunner to acquire the rights to that project.
We also shouldn’t forget other Scorsese projects such as “Devil in the White City,” “The Life of Jesus,” “Sinatra,” and, the least likely to happen, “The Wager.” Regardless, Scorsese, 82, needs to get going, he’s not getting any younger, and only has so many years left to tell these stories.
Criterion's December lineup has some great additions to the library, but the title that jumped out at me is Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man," which officially joins the Collection on December 8.