Martin Scorsese Shuts Down Retirement Rumors

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Griff Griffin | Last updated Oct 8, 2024 11:06 AM ET

Martin Scorsese isn’t done with cinema yet.

The legendary director shut down rumors he’s stepping down from his almost 50-year career during a press conference Monday at the Museum of Cinema in Turin, Italy.

“I’m not saying goodbye to cinema at all,” said Scorsese, as reported by THR. “I still have more films to make, and I hope God gives me the strength to make them.”

Those films Scorsese references include a planned Jesus biopic, as well as one about singer and actor Frank Sinatra. In fact, reports say the Martin Scorsese Jesus movie starts shooting 2025.

Miramax, Touchstone Pictures

Scorsese is in Turin to receive the Museum of Cinema’s prestigious Stella della Mole award. During his conference, he also talked about the U.S. elections, comparing some of the rhetoric to one of his most violent characters in Gangs of New York.

“When we filmed Gangs of New York at Cinecittà, we depicted a violent, bloody 19th century America, with a brutal character — Bill the Butcher, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. People like him are showing up again. We don’t know what’s going to happen in a few weeks. Democracy could continue, or this experiment could end.”

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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