Martin Scorsese Announces Upcoming Film on Jesus after Meeting Pope Francis
Renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese recently concluded a visit to Italy, including a meeting with Pope Francis, following the Cannes Film Festival. During a conference in Rome at the Vatican, Scorsese confirmed that his next project would center around the life of Jesus.
Scorsese shared, “In response to the Pope's call to artists, I have taken it upon myself to envision and develop a screenplay for a film dedicated to Jesus.” He further stated, “The production is set to commence soon,” indicating that this endeavor holds great significance to him. Ahead of the conference, Scorsese and his spouse had a private audience with the Pope at the Vatican during the weekend. The event was organized by La Civiltà Cattolica, a Jesuit publication, in collaboration with Georgetown University.
Antonio Spadaro, the editor of the religious periodical, revealed that during his conversation with Scorsese, the director seamlessly weaved between discussions about his previous films and personal anecdotes, emphasizing how the Pope's plea “to allow us to witness Jesus” resonated with him. Scorsese has frequently sought inspiration from religion for his cinematic works, expressing admiration for Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel According to St. Matthew and reflecting on the significance of his own controversial 1988 masterpiece, The Last Temptation of Christ. Later today, Scorsese will host the “Carat Bianca” event in Rome, where he will present a specially curated selection of his movies alongside the classics that influenced him.
In other entertainment news, Netflix has officially renewed The Witcher for its highly anticipated fifth season.
