Martin Scorsese's Upcoming Movie Slate

Martin Scorsese has become the popular high demand director due to The Departed's Oscar buzz. Warner Bros have acquired screen rights to yet another project for the director. But with so many projects in the works, will he ever find the time? And what will he take on next? Let's take a look at Scorsese's potetial upcoming projects.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

John Logan (The Aviator) is set to write the screenplay adaptation of Brian Selznick's bestselling children's novel. The book description for The Invention of Hugo Cabret follows:

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

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Silence

A Japan-based passion project adapted from the Shusaku Endo novel which follows two 17th century Jesuit priests who return to Japan and "must contend with traders from rival European nations and the persecution of Christians by Japanese feudal lords". The project was originally set-up in 2004. Rumor has it that Javier Bardem was/is in line to play Francis Garrpe. Last we heard the project was being prepped for a potential Summer 2007 shoot in Vancouver.

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The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt

Based on Edmund Morris' book, Rise takes a look at the formative years of the 26th President of the United States, from his transformation from a privileged New York politician to commander of the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Scorsese favorite Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to play Roosevelt. Star Trek scribe Nicholas Meyer wrote the most recent draft. Paramount hopes to push the film into production in 2008.

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The Elia Kazan Project

A feature length documentary on the late Elia Kazan, the Academy Award winning direcor of On the Waterfront, A Streetcar Named Desire and East of Eden. A treatment/outline was completed in May 2006. The status of the project is unknown.

.The Departed 2

Screenwriter William Monahan has an idea, and the studio has a money interest. No comment from Scorsese yet. Who knows if Marty is even interested. But a Best Picture Oscar could push this into the fast-track.

.The Last Duel

Set up at Paramount, Last Duel is a bigscreen adaptation of Eric Jager's historical novel The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal and Trial by Combat in Medieval France. Jager's book tells the story of a duel that occurred in 1386 between knights Jean de Carrouges and Jacques LeGris. The Duel was the last sanctioned by the French government (King Charles IV). When the deal was announced in December, Scorsese commented that Duel "won't necessarily" be his next film.

.The Last Duel sounds the most interesting to me, followed closely by The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (although I'm not sure if I buy Leo as Teddy) and The Departed 2 (Which I've been calling "Departeder"). The Kazan Project and Silence smell of pet project boring to me.

And remember, Scorsese already has already wrapped on the untitled Rolling Stones documentary (working title: Shine a Light) which spans their career, inter-cut to footage from the A Bigger Bang Tour. Expect that to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September, with a theatrical release by year's end.