- Must Watch: First Glorious Clash of the Titans Teaser Trailer! (147 Comments)
- New Moon Breaks Records, But When Will Fanboys Strike Back? (107 Comments)
- The Crow Remake is Casting, But Who Should Play Draven? (86 Comments)
- First Trailer for Date Night Starring Steve Carell & Tina Fey (67 Comments)
- Sound Off: Roland Emmerich's 2012 - What Did You Think? (66 Comments)
- Lone Scherfig Going Comedic With New Rom-Com 'One Day' (Dec 8, 2009)
- Hunger Director Steve McQueen Directing Fela Kuti Biopic Next (Dec 8, 2009)
- The Snow Queen is One of Disney's Next Hand-Drawn Films (Dec 7, 2009)
- Rob Luketic: From Romantic Comedy to Romancing the Stone? (Dec 7, 2009)
- Casting Tidbits: Elijah Wood, Kate Bosworth, & Frank Langella (Dec 7, 2009)
- Peter Jackson Provides an Interesting Update on Temeraire (Dec 7, 2009)
- Burton and Depp Shooting Dark Shadows Starting Next Year (Dec 7, 2009)
- Is the Wachowskis's Next Project a Futuristic Iraq War Movie? (Dec 7, 2009)
| Inglourious Basterds | 10/10 |
| It Might Get Loud | 9/10 |
| Inglourious Basterds | 8.5/10 |
| Star Trek | 9/10 |
| Monsters vs Aliens | 5/10 |
Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro to Star in Martin Scorsese's Silence
February 1, 2009
by Alex Billington
How's that for one hell of an exciting cast! We've heard quite a damn bit about different Martin Scorsese projects that he could take on after he finishes Shutter Island, but he's intent on shooting an adaptation of Shusaku Endo's Silence next. Starring in the film will be Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro, if Scorsese indeed gets his way, and it's also looking like Gael Garcia Bernal will star alongside of those two in Silence. The drama is set in the 17th century and focuses on two Jesuit priests that face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity.
Scorsese doesn't have a studio for this project yet but is working with producer Graham King to develop the film. King's GK Films will be financing the project, which is expected to begin production sometime later this year in New Zealand. Graham King and Scorsese previously worked together on The Departed, The Aviator and Gangs of New York. Scorsese last cast Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York and The Age of Innocence, but he has never worked with Benicio Del Toro or Gael Garcia Bernal before this. The screenplay was written by Jay Cocks, of Gangs of New York and The Age of Innocence previously as well.
I'm not at all familiar with Shusaku Endo's novel, but I must say it seems like Scorsese's recent interest in this might have stemmed from immense critical success of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt. I can't say this with complete confidence, but I think Doubt has opened the doors for the darker side of Christianity in Hollywood, meaning Scorsese doesn't have to shy away from showing the more violent and bitter side of Christianity, which it sounds like Silence will be all about. Obviously it's set in a completely different time period, but there is still a fascinating story to be told. I'm very excited to hear more about this!
•  |
Related Articles
- » Martin Scorsese's Full Upcoming Slate
- » Rumor: Benicio Del Toro Also in Sofia Coppola's Somewhere?
- » First Look: Benicio Del Toro as the Wolfman!
- » Sean Penn, Jim Carrey, Benicio Del Toro: Your Three Stooges
- » First Look Part 2: Benicio Del Toro as the Wolfman
- » New Photos of Benicio Del Toro in Steven Soderbergh's Che
Reader Feedback - 18 Comments »
1
Sounds like it has potential. I may have to check out the source material in the near future.
By the way, check out "The Mission" from 1986 sometime. Starred Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons as Jesuit missionaries in 18th century South America. Ennio Morricone did the score.
Mel Valentin on Feb 1, 2009
2
He wanted to do this project for a long time. I just hope he can pull it off this time. Afterwards "I heard you paint houses"!
Candy Castle on Feb 2, 2009
3
I have seen the mission and although the basic plot for this sounds similar, but i mean come on, the cast itself is wayyyyyyyyyyyy better than The Mission. Daniel Day Lewis and Benicio, it does not get better than that. This is one of the most exciting information i have got in ages. This movie out of nowhere has just jumped to the top of my list for most anticipated movies in the future.
The fact that G.G. Bernal might star in it, makes it even better. Cant wait for more information on this project. Personally, im not a big fan of scorsese, gangs of new york was amazing, hated the departed (infernal affairs is way better) but i do enjoy his work, and hes not the kind of director who would mess up with such an amazing cast.
Aequitas on Feb 2, 2009
4
at #3…….the mission cast was "waaaaaaaaaay" better. i like DDL and BDT but i'll take deniro and irons.
and i want to see shutter island really bad. i loved the book and hopefully the movie will be as good.
dan on Feb 2, 2009
5
Aren't the characters in the book portuguese?
Those guys ain't portuguese.
Darunia on Feb 2, 2009
6
But they're damn good actors.
Movie Fan on Feb 2, 2009
7
"it seems like Scorsese's recent interest in this might have stemmed from immense critical success of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt."
"Silence" has been listed as one of Scorsese's upcoming projects on IMDB since at least 2006, if not earlier, because I remember looking around the time that "The Departed" came out to see what else he had coming down the pipeline and "Silence" was one of those projects.
Liz on Feb 2, 2009
8
I'm so frigging excited! I was waiting for some casting news on this project. Of all the project's he has in the pipeline this was the one I was waiting for. Love Del Toro and Day-Lewis. And as for the Doubt thing… um Last Temptation of Christ? Scorsese's always been interested in religion, it plays a role in all of his films for the most part. Plus the book has nothing in common with Doubt(which was great) BTW this is news. I'm glad I can find something interesting on this site besides oodles of stuff on crappy comic book movies.
adrian on Feb 2, 2009
9
Scorsese's been trying to get this made forever. Also, it's written by a Japanese Catholic and is about Christians being persecuted, not doing the persecuting. While you might see struggles with faith, it's almost the opposite of showing the dark side of Christianity.
d on Feb 2, 2009
10
Del Toro, Lewis & Bernal…Can't Wait to see that.
Scorsese is an amazing director, i really admire his work.
Fisherr on Feb 2, 2009
12
Scorsese already opened the doors to darker Christianity movies with The Last Temptation of Christ. It would be hard to make a bad movie with these people involved.
Paul on Feb 2, 2009
13
This is a huge rumor. I think this idea, as well as this specific cast, was mentioned at the same time as the release of There Will Be Blood. If it sticks, though, man that could be a great film.
Jake on Feb 2, 2009
14
This is HUGE! Don't you love great Actors with the Amazing Scorsese! Comment on this Buttons?
D-9 on Feb 2, 2009
15
benicio was great in the The pledge, Suspects, FaLIlV, Traffic and che. And who can forget him falling into the mixer/grinder in License to kill.
Danny and Marty's contributions to film are too much to list. I will look forward to this.
Red --- Buttons on Feb 2, 2009
16
I've read the novel three times. I read a lot and have never read a novel 3 times. Never imagined anyone would take on a film adaptation and am so pleased that a director of this stature is going to do it.
Dale on Feb 3, 2009
17
ha ha 31 weird i just saw "The Mission" in my Spainish class a few days ago, I liked it. Now I hear about a movie that reminds me of it.
Silver on Feb 4, 2009
18
Scorsese continues to roam cluelessly in the world beyond his neighborhood.
"—Paging John Huston!"
"—Paging John Huston!"
AMEN
DR DTX on Nov 20, 2009