Killers of the Flower Moon explored the banality of true evil and the unimaginable real tragedy unleashed on the Osage Nation. The movie is a masterpiece from one of Hollywood’s greatest directors of all-time. It was also really long, clocking in at three hours and 26 minutes. Now Martin Scorsese is working on his next film. It will bring him back to a subject he’s explored throughout his legendary career. And this time no one will have to worry about needing a bathroom break. He said he expects his upcoming film about Jesus and organized religion to only be 80 minutes.
Martin Scorsese recently sat down with Glenn Whipp of The Los Angeles Times for an interview that is a must-read for fans. The two discussed his early career, recurring themes in his films, and his future. That included insight into his next project, an adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s book A Life of Jesus.
Scorsese’s work on the movie began after he met with Pope Francis last year. He told the Times, “I have responded to the pope’s appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus.” He has already finished the script. Scorsese partnered on it with filmmaker and critic Kent Jones, whom he’s worked with before. The director expects to start filming later this year.
Despite the movie’s present day setting, Scorsese hopes it will “feel timeless.” He also said the movie will focus on “Jesus’ core teachings in a way that explores the principles but doesn’t proselytize.” Scorsese ultimately wants to make organized religion “more accessible” to people. He hopes to do that by taking away “the negative onus of what has been associated with” it.
Not exactly a small task. We might expect a film hoping to accomplish that goal to run 800 minutes rather than 80.
The film won’t be Scorsese’s first centered around religion or even Jesus. His movies have long explored spirituality, redemption, and the role of religion. He also previously adapted another of Endō’s books with 2016’s Silence. And he directed 1988’s The Last Temptation of Christ starring Willem Defoe.
We don’t know who will star in his new film. But we do know we’ll be lining up to see it. And also that we won’t have to worry about whether we drank too much coffee before seeing it.
