As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of Hollywood, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the ongoing saga of the Frank Sinatra biopic. Having closely followed the careers of Paul Schrader and Martin Scorsese, two titans of cinema, it’s disheartening to see their vision for this iconic figure remain unrealized.
Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Schrader sheds light on why a Frank Sinatra biopic remains unrealized and reveals his daring pick for the role of Ol’ Blue Eyes. Known for penning screenplays like ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’, and directing films such as ‘Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters’, ‘Affliction’, and ‘First Reformed’, Schrader is a prominent figure in the Hollywood scene. Intriguingly, he once entertained the idea of a Frank Sinatra biopic, but his casting selection and potential disputes with the Sinatra estate appeared to nip this project in the bud, much like it did for his former associate Martin Scorsese.
Paul Schrader recently chatted with MovieWeb about his newest movie, titled “Oh, Canada“. During their conversation, Schrader touched upon a Sinatra biopic that had been previously rumored, but clarified a common misunderstanding. He stated, “I wasn’t involved in its creation. I was given the Frank Sinatra script… It’s not the one Martin Scorsese is trying to produce either.” Schrader later explained that his adaptation of the film never took off due to a contentious casting decision he had made for the role of Frank Sinatra: Kevin Spacey. Schrader admitted, “I wanted him for the part, but it was ultimately the reason my project didn’t move forward.
As a cinephile, I felt the project was tailor-made for Kevin Spacey, and I approached the financiers, proposing, “I’d like to make this film with Kevin Spacey,” but they firmly declined, stating, “We won’t produce that film.” Despite his acquittal in a court of law, his career remains in limbo. My interest in the project was solely centered around collaborating with Kevin.
In October of 2017, accusations against Kevin Spacey surfaced. As a result, he was removed from numerous projects like “House of Cards,” and Ridley Scott had to re-shoot Spacey’s scenes for “All the Money in the World” with Christopher Plummer just two months before its December premiere. Spacey maintains his innocence regarding these claims. In 2023, a court in London found him not guilty of charges relating to incidents from 2004 and 2013 when he served as artistic director at the Old Vic Theatre in London. His first movie post-sexual assault allegations was released in 2022 called “The Man Who Drew God,” and his initial American film after the allegations, titled “Peter Five Eight,” premiered in 2024.
The Biggest Obstacles Preventing a Sinatra Biopic
Schrader shared his thoughts about the major hurdle that could have prevented his film, apart from Kevin Spacey, and the reason Martin Scorsese has yet to make his planned Sinatra movie. He stated that Tina Sinatra, the youngest daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Barbato, would have posed a challenge for him as well. Schrader believes that a biopic about Frank Sinatra will likely never come to fruition while Tina Sinatra is involved in the project. In simpler terms, Schrader said, “Marty encountered difficulties with Tina [Sinatra], and I would have too. She’s like an unmovable obstacle. I don’t think we’ll ever see a Sinatra movie as long as Tina is part of it.
For two decades, Martin Scorsese has endeavored to create a biopic about Frank Sinatra, but he’s consistently encountered roadblocks from the Sinatra family estate. The issues appear to stem from Scorsese’s desire to delve into the numerous alleged links between Sinatra and organized crime, which the estate denies. However, in 2024, there was a glimmer of hope as Leonardo DiCaprio was chosen to play Sinatra and Jennifer Lawrence was cast as Ava Gardner. Unfortunately, the film failed to commence production on its scheduled November 2024 start date, and it appears to be halted once more.
To create a Frank Sinatra movie, Scorsese or Schrader might require cooperation from Sinatra’s estate, as they’d want to utilize the singer’s name, image, and iconic discography. Without songs such as “My Way,” “Strangers in the Night,” or “Fly Me to the Moon,” it could resemble the David Bowie film “Stardust,” which didn’t use any of his music. If the Sinatra estate seeks to make the film overly sanitized, it would echo the feel of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It seems challenging to craft a Frank Sinatra movie that would please everyone.
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2024-11-29 23:31