Martin Scorsese’s ambition to direct a biopic about Frank Sinatra has been one of Hollywood’s most enduring but elusive dreams. Across nearly two decades, the project has sputtered through cycles of high hopes, creative stumbles, and estate opposition—yet Scorsese has never abandoned it entirely.
A dream decades in the making
Scorsese’s first public Sinatra biopic efforts trace back to 2009, when Universal and Mandalay Pictures were developing the adaptation—Frank Sinatra Enterprises (the Sinatra Estate + Warner Music Group) had granted rights, and Phil Alden Robinson was writing the screenplay. Over the ensuing years, the project surfaced intermittently: Scorsese considered casting Al Pacino as Sinatra and Robert De Niro as Dean Martin, even contemplating using multiple actors for different periods. But each time it seemed to gain traction, negotiations stalled, especially over creative control and the estate’s demands.
By 2017, Scorsese hinted the project might be dead—but the story did not end there.
Revival with star power (and renewed hurdles)
In April 2024, Variety reported a revival: Scorsese intended to shoot the Sinatra film immediately after his planned adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s novel A Life of Jesus. This time, Leonardo DiCaprio was eyed for Sinatra, with Jennifer Lawrence being considered to portray Ava Gardner. People Magazine confirmed similar casting interest and noted that Scorsese and DiCaprio would be reuniting after Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
Yet, once again, the Sinatra estate—specifically Tina Sinatra, who controls the late singer’s image and music rights—had not yet approved the project. Reports emphasized that Scorsese’s vision included Sinatra’s underworld connections and complex personal life—elements that might unsettle the estate .
Plans paused yet intention persists
Despite the excitement, by late September 2024, both the Sinatra biopic and A Life of Jesus were indefinitely postponed, with filming schedules removed and no new dates announced. Scorsese himself, at a press event in October 2024, acknowledged ongoing plans for multiple films—yet confirmed he was not retiring and was now focusing on a marine archaeology documentary, Shipwrecks of Sicily, being filmed in Italy .
Why Sinatra?
Why has Scorsese been drawn to Sinatra for so long? Sinatra’s life encompassed iconic musical triumphs, Hollywood fame, and a deep entanglement with mid‑century organized crime—all themes resonant with Scorsese’s signature exploration of American myth-making, power and corruption. The prospect of DiCaprio and Lawrence, two of the era’s most bankable actors, under Scorsese’s direction, sparked industry buzz about a potential awards contender.
Yet those same elements—the family’s protective stance, the darker themes, and the decades of creative back‑and‑forth—suggest why the project has remained in limbo.
What’s next
As of mid‑2025, there’s no indication of renewed momentum for the Sinatra film. Scorsese remains creative and active, with projects like Shipwrecks of Sicily advancing. Meanwhile, his collaboration with DiCaprio continues via other potential vehicles, including the revived Devil in the White City—though that film, too, lacks a script and remains on the periphery of development .
Until the Sinatra estate grants full approval, the biopic remains a passionate vision rather than a confirmed production. Scorsese’s persistence suggests the project is more than a speculative headline—it’s an ongoing artistic quest. But given the track record, Sinatra devotees and cinephiles alike may need to temper their hopes.
In summary
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Scorsese’s Sinatra biopic began development around 2009, with multiple starts and stops over the years.
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In 2024, the project officially revived with Leonardo DiCaprio as Sinatra and Jennifer Lawrence as Ava Gardner, intended to film after A Life of Jesus.
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The Sinatra estate has not approved the project—particularly because of its darker thematic content.
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By September–October 2024, both projects were indefinitely postponed.
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Scorsese continues actively making films (e.g., his documentary) and insists he’s not retiring, but no current timeline exists for the Sinatra film.
Until further updates emerge—especially regarding estate approval—the Sinatra biopic remains one of cinema’s most tantalizing “what if?” stories.
