American director Martin Scorsese has completed writing the screenplay for the film “Life of Christ,” in collaboration with director and critic Kent Jones, with plans to commence filming later in 2024.
“Life of Christ” is the fourth religious film from Scorsese, following his controversial 1988 film “The Last Temptation of Christ,” the 2016 release “Silence,” and the 1997 biographical film “Kundun,” which revolved around the life of the Dalai Lama.
The new film is set in contemporary times and is an adaptation of Japanese writer Shusaku Endo’s 1973 novel “Life of Jesus.” Scorsese previously adapted Endo’s 1966 novel, which also shares the same name as the 2016 film “Silence.”
British-American actor Andrew Garfield, internationally recognized for his role in the “Spider-Man” series, has been cast as the lead in the new film. Garfield was previously selected to star in “The Amazing Spider-Man” and its sequel in 2012 and 2014, before the role was transitioned to actor Tom Holland to continue the series.
Scorsese told the “Los Angeles Times” that he is preparing to shoot the film in 2024, prompted by a meeting with Pope Francis in 2023.
The octogenarian director stated, “I answered the Pope’s call to artists in the only way I know, through envisioning and writing a film script about Jesus.”
According to Scorsese, his aim with this film is to defend Christianity against attempts at distortion.
Known for his religious interests within the entertainment industry, the 81-year-old Scorsese has a notable track record of works addressing religious themes, setting him apart from other Hollywood directors.
“The Last Temptation of Christ” shocked the Christian world in 1988 with its boundary-pushing concept and presentation. It faced rejection from many theaters due to unacceptable scenes and was banned for years in countries like Argentina. Christian groups organized loud protests and boycotts both before and after its release.
To counteract the boycotts, the production company held special previews for groups opposed to the film, particularly in the United States, where around 1,200 Christian radio stations in California condemned it. Some entities even offered compensation to the company in exchange for collecting and destroying all copies of the film.
“The Last Temptation of Christ” was adapted from a novel of the same name by the famous Spanish writer Nikos Kazantzakis. The story revolves around a carpenter named Jesus of Nazareth who pities the people and the world, preaches obedience to God, and decides to pursue his path. As his mission draws to a close, he faces the ultimate trial: living the ordinary life of a regular man, where he marries and becomes a father.
The 2016 film “Silence” depicted the dangerous journey of two 17th-century Portuguese priests, Father Sebastian Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Francisco Garupe (Adam Driver), as they traveled to Japan to find their missing teacher (Liam Neeson). There, the priests covertly served Christian villagers in danger of persecution and execution by feudal lords or ruling samurais should their faith be discovered.
Scorsese’s “Kundun” in 1997 returned to the year 1937, when a two-and-a-half-year-old boy from a humble family in Tibet was recognized as the 14th reincarnation of Buddha and destined to become the spiritual and political leader of his people. The film chronicles the true story of the Dalai Lama, known as “Kundun” in Tibet, from childhood through the Chinese invasion of Tibet and his exile to India in 1959.
Scorsese’s most recent movie, “The Killers of the Flower Moon,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, won a Golden Globe Award at the ceremony held on January 8th, 2023. Actress Lily Gladstone, who is of Native American descent, received the award for Best Actress, marking the first time a Native American actress has won the prize.
