It’s all over social media today that Martin Scorsese‘s next project will be Tyson, a biopic of the former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. While that’s an exciting prospect, it’s always worth remembering when it comes to Scorsese that he’s been loading up projects on his plate for about a decade. Scorsese has a tendency to attach his name to all sorts of projects she doesn’t end up directing, like The Gambler (which was directed by Rupert Wyatt) and The Snowman (which Tomas Alfredson is now attached to direct). At seventy-two years old, Scorsese show few signs of slowing down, but he still can’t possibly direct all the projects he says he’s interested in directing. So, several years ago I started posting the Scorsese Stakes — a list of all the projects he is attached to direct and what of the odds that they will be his next film.
Currently, Scorsese is filming Silence, a passion project that was years in the making — so many years, in fact, that Scorsese was sued by producers for delaying the film for over ten years. While Tyson might in fact be Scorsese’s next film, there are plenty of other projects that might end up being the next film from the master director.
1) Tyson — Scorsese directed what is arguably the best boxing drama ever made, Raging Bull. It’s obvious he could create magic directing a film based on the most controversial boxer of the last few decades. Scorsese’s name has been floated for the director’s chair for a Tyson biopic, but it was just talks. It wasn’t until today when star Jamie Foxx announced on Power 105 radio that the movie is happening with Scorsese directing him from a script by Terrence Winter (Boardwalk Empire). Paramount, who is making the film, hasn’t confirmed the news, but Foxx obviously felt comfortable enough announcing it.
Odds of Being Scorsese’s Next: 3-1… Foxx’s announcement makes this the lead horse in the race.
2) The Irishman AKA I Hear You Paint Houses — I really hope this film, if it ends up being made, goes with the original title because The Irishman is just too plain. Anyway, this is perhaps at the top of everyone’s list because it combines some of the best of Scorsese, making it the sentimental favorite. This film, based on the life of of Frank Sheeran, the mob hitman who claims to have murdered Jimmy Hoffa, has not only Robert De Niro in the lead, but Joe Pesci and Al Pacino attached to star. Probably the top three “mafia” actors in one film, which means start counting the money that is going to pour in. The problem is that Pesci is largely retired and that Pacino and De Niro usually fill up their schedules with plenty of other projects, meaning that these three Oscar winners may not have the time in their schedules to coordinate such a project. However, Pacino confirmed it was still happening in September with Steve Zaillian (Gangs of New York) writing the script.
Odds of Being Scorsese’s Next: 5-1… mostly because it’s probably the sentimental favorite.
3) Sinatra — The greatest Italian-American director making a film about the most famous Italian-American singer? It’s a match made in heaven. Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams) was originally writing the screenplay, but in 2012 Hunger Games and Captain Phillips screenwriter Billy Ray was announced as working on the script. Back then, Leonardo DiCaprio was attached to star, though it seems an unlikely fit with each passing year. There hasn’t been much news on the Sinatra biopic front in the past two years either.
Odds of Being Scorsese’s Next: 20-1… though Scorsese was once gung-ho about this (and said he might even shoot it in 3D!), it appears to have been put on the backburner.
4) The Ramones — Last August an article in Billboard revealed that Scorsese was interested in directing a biopic on the Ramones, the trailblazing punk band out of Queens, New York. However, Deadline quickly defused the story by pointing out that there wasn’t even a script for the film. Even if Scorsese is interested, the project is in its earliest stages.
Odds of Being Scorsese’s Next: 30-1… it’s not happening without a script.
5) Furious Love — Shortly after Elizabeth Taylor’s death, Scorsese expressed interest in directing a movie about the romance between Taylor and Richard Burton (who were married twice). Scorsese has a love for classic Hollywood and it’s been some time since he did a romantic film, but there hasn’t been any news since it was initially announced in 2011. Perhaps the estates of Taylor and Burton aren’t interested in seeing some of the more tumultuous aspects of their relationship depicted on screen.
Odds of Being Scorsese’s Next: 50-1… no news in nearly four years means that this project is probably dead.
6) The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt — Another one of Scorsese’s on-again, off-again projects is this biopic about former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and his rise to the presidency. This is one of Scorsese favorite Leonardo DiCaprio‘s pet projects, and it has been suggested it’s DiCaprio’s attempt to finally nab the Oscar that has always been just out of his reach. However, DiCaprio tends to talk about this project much more than Scorsese does.
Odds of Being Scorsese’s Next: 100-1… this one will probably get made, but likely with another director (seems more like a Steven Spielberg project, right?)
So which movie do you think will be the next one to have Martin Scorsese sitting in the director’s chair? Let us know in the comments below.
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