Renowned director Martin Scorsese has completed the screenplay for his upcoming film on Jesus Christ, set to be his shortest movie yet with an intended length of just 80 minutes. This is a departure from Scorsese’s recent films, such as Killers of the Flower Moon, which had a runtime of nearly 3.5 hours. The director aims to make the story more accessible and shed the negative connotations associated with organized religion. The film is based on the book “A Life of Jesus” by Shusaku Endo and will be set mostly in the present day, offering a contemporary perspective on the life of Jesus.
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scorsese expressed his desire to present Jesus’ core teachings without bordering on proselytizing. The filmmaker met with Pope Francis during a tour of Italy, and the conversation with the Pope about cinema, Catholicism, and their intertwining themes became the inspiration for Scorsese’s next project. The director announced the film after the meeting, stating, “I have responded to the Pope’s appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus.”
Scorsese, known for his interest in religion, grew up in an Italian American neighborhood in New York City, attended a Catholic high school, and briefly attempted to become a priest. While he emphasizes his belief in the tenets of Catholicism, he acknowledges not being interested in the politics of the institution. Scorsese’s previous films, like Silence and The Last Temptation of Christ, explore Christian ideals, with the upcoming project continuing his exploration of fundamental beliefs through cinema.
The director’s dedication to portraying religious themes on screen reflects his personal journey and quest to find meaning. Despite his inclination towards exploring these themes in his work, Scorsese is cautious about using the term “religious” due to potential misinterpretations. The film on Jesus Christ is expected to provide a concise and impactful portrayal of the iconic figure, aiming to make the story more relatable to a broader audience.