Martin Scorsese eyes Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Sinatra in new biopic: Report

Washington: Director Martin Scorsese is reportedly preparing a new project that aims to capture the essence of Frank Sinatra’s life in a biopic following his film about Jesus. Sources tell Variety that Scorsese has set his sights on casting Leonardo DiCaprio as the famous singer-actor, with Jennifer Lawrence potentially playing Sinatra’s second wife, Ava Gardner. The two had earlier shared the screen in the 2021 film ‘Don’t Look Up’. Variety reports that Tina Sinatra, who controls Frank’s estate, has not yet given the green light to the project.

Representatives of DiCaprio, Scorsese and Lawrence have not yet issued any statement in response to inquiries from media houses. Frank Sinatra, who died in 1998 at the age of 82, left an indelible mark on the 20th century with his versatile career. From starring in films like 1962’s The Manchurian Candidate to singing timeless classics like ‘My Way’ and ‘New York, New York’, Sinatra’s legacy remains iconic.

The singer’s personal life was equally remarkable, with four marriages marking his romantic journey. After divorcing his first wife, Nancy Barbato, in 1951, Sinatra married actress Ava Gardner later that year. However, their union ended in divorce in 1957. Sinatra married Mia Farrow and later Barbara Marx, and remained with her until his death. Should the Sinatra biopic come to fruition, it would mark the seventh collaboration between DiCaprio and Scorsese, who most recently directed 2023’s ‘Killers.’ Worked together in ‘Of the Flower Moon’. During a press conference for the film, DiCaprio expressed admiration for both Scorsese and his co-star Robert De Niro, dubbing them “cinematic father figures”.

In addition to the Sinatra project, Scorsese is also reportedly exploring a film centered on Jesus, with Andrew Garfield and Miles Teller potentially joining the cast. Details about their roles are unknown. Scorsese’s interest in the Jesus narrative was first revealed following a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in May 2023. In January, Scorsese revealed plans to begin filming in 2024 based on Shusaku Ando’s novel A Life of Jesus, which would aim for a contemporary setting and an estimated runtime of 80 minutes. He expressed a desire to redefine the portrayal of organized religion, aiming for accessibility and removing any negative connotations associated with it. (ANI)