Martin Scorsese will join forces with two of Hollywood’s most talented actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, to carry out one of the most anticipated productions: the biopic of Frank Sinatra.
Variety reported that multiple studios and platforms are vying to acquire the rights for the director’s next movie after “Killers of the Flower Moon“, but first, the project must have the blessing of Tina, the singer’s daughter.
This isn’t the first time the drama has been set in motion; the filmmaker has been pursuing the idea for several years. In 2017, he backed off because the star’s children did not approve of what they were doing.
Leonardo DiCaprio will portray Frank Sinatra
The Oscar-winning actor, who has already worked six times with the acclaimed director, has been chosen to bring Frank Sinatra to life in his highly anticipated biopic, which will explore the life of the iconic singer.
The official plot is not yet known, but according to World of Reel, Scorsese confessed that he hoped to approach the project as a complex portrait of the ups and downs the singer experienced over the years.
Image of singer Frank Sinatra appears on 40 foot high movable panels and screens during rehearsals for the “Sinatra: His Voice. His World. His Way” gala. (Source: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
“Certain things are very difficult for a family, and I completely understand that. But if they expect me to do it, they can’t suppress certain things. The problem is that the man was very complex. Everyone is very complex, but Sinatra in particular”, he revealed.
This means that Leonardo DiCaprio will not have a rosy portrayal; he will need to embody both the best and worst moments of the musical industry icon, known for songs like “Fly Me To The Moon”.
Jennifer Lawrence will portray a Ava Gardner
Jennifer Lawrence, who won the Oscar for Best Actress for her work in Silver Linings Playbook, has been chosen to portray Ava Gardner, the second wife of the American singer and actor.
Ava was an iconic Hollywood actress known for her beauty, talent and fascinating personal life. Her legacy endures in the memory of classic cinema and she continues to be remembered as one of the most legendary stars.
Jennifer Lawrence attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards — Ava Gardner. (Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images — IMDb)
Her personal life was quite tumultuous, and her marriages to famous men have been the focus of media attention for multiple years, but one of the most prominent was the third one, with Sinatra.
Sinatra biopic was a failed project for a long time
Martin Scorsese has been pursuing a Sinatra biopic for many years, but it never came to fruition, all because the singer’s children did not approve of the direction the film’s story was taking.
According to World of Reels, throughout the 2000s, the director was developing the drama, which originally had John Travolta as the lead. However, in 2017, he backed away from the project.
At one point, Phil Alden Robinson was set to write the screenplay, but later Billy Ray was attached. Ultimately, neither of them ended up being part of the production team or the project itself.
Seven years ago, the filmmaker confessed to the Toronto Sun that he had abandoned the project because “We can’t do it. I think it’s finally over. [Sinatra’s heirs] won’t agree to it. Open it up again and I’m there”.
