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The iconic screenwriter ofTaxiDriver, Paul Schrader, once said,“Every time I thought that I might die, I would get a new idea.”Now, although the 81-year-old auteur, Martin Scorsese is very far from the final event, the legendary director and Leonardo DiCaprio collaborator has quipped once or twice his fear of not having much time left to do all of the things he wants to do. Perhaps that very thought has led to Scorsese picking up his pace on two projects of astounding weight and value – Jesus Christ and Frank Sinatra.

Martin Scorsese [Photo: Harald Krichel, 74th Berlin International Film Festival]

Martin Scorsese [Photo: Harald Krichel, 74th Berlin International Film Festival, via Wikimedia Commons]The upcoming biopics – one adapted from a novel and the other from life – will be filmed back to back under Scorsese’s watchful eye. And even though criticism is a foregone conclusion in both of these projects, that thought has hardly put a pause on the director’s boundless enthusiasm and joy for getting his films imprinted on the big screen.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Frank Sinatra Role Faces Criticism

The problem with aFrank Sinatrabiopic is manifold in its complexity. Primarily, the life of the legendary blue-eyed Hollywood crooner is in and of itself a subject of great controversy. From hisalleged ties to the Mafiato high-scale affairs, Sinatra’s personality was as much a catalog for the gilded industry lifestyle as his profession. For those reasons alone, Ol’ Blue Eyes stands in his own way of becoming the subject of aMartin Scorsese-directed,Leonardo DiCaprio-starring biopic.

Frank Sinatra with Ella Fitzgerald in 1958 [Credit:The Frank Sinatra Show]The leading man, on the other hand, has stood by Scorsese through every peak and valley over the course of their extensive and unparalleled collaboration throughout the 21st century. Leonardo DiCaprio’s commitment to Scorsese’s vision and his eerie similarity to the Sultan of Swoon make him a serendipitous addition to the biopic as its leading man.Jennifer Lawrencehas been cast as the Hollywood icon Ava Gardner, Sinatra’s second wife and the greatest love of his life, who was married to him for 6 years, and was responsible for his failed suicide attempt and his first Oscar win.

Frank Sinatra with Ella Fitzgerald in 1958 [Photo- The Frank Sinatra Show]

“He looked like he’d just visited hell”: Frank Sinatra Showed Marlon Brando He Was The Real Godfather by Scaring Him to Brink of Death After Oscar Winner Crossed a Line

Despite the universe coming together to make such a rare union of talents possible, the criticism surrounding the film has three layers. Primarily, the problem lies with the estate of Frank Sinatra, and, Tina Sinatra (daughter from his first marriage which was broken up due to his extramarital affair with Ava Gardner) has been somewhat hesitant to lend her blessing to the project. It further concerns Leonardo DiCaprio’s age which, at 49, is hardly in the same decade as Sinatra’s 36 during the time of his marriage to Gardner.

Zac Efron Makes a Much Better Candidate for Frank Sinatra

The Iron Claw[Credit: A24]The third and final problem lies with the casting choice for Scorsese’s Sinatra biopic. Although DiCaprio resembles the singer more closely thanZac Efron(36), the former Disney star has a vocal range,  professional experience, and mastery over singing that DiCaprio frankly does not. Throughout his Hollywood career, there has been no proof of concept – be it a film or passion project – that can support DiCaprio’s claim to the role. Efron, on the other hand, is ripe for the taking – his sparkling blue eyes being a lucky addition that only serves to make his claim stronger.

“Hall of fame of dumb f**king decisions”: Zac Efron’s The Iron Claw Oscar Snub is the Greatest Tragedy in Academy History, Fans Claim

AfterThe Greatest Showmanactor’segregious snub at the 2024 Oscars, it only becomes more pertinent that Hollywood recognize and compensate for Zac Efron’s ignored talent by casting him in a role that he may have been born to play. At this stage, the biopic just might needThe Iron Clawactor’s skills more than whatever DiCaprio can bring to the table.

The Iron Clawis now streaming on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.

“He looked like he’d just visited hell”: Frank Sinatra Showed Marlon Brando He Was The Real Godfather by Scaring Him to Brink of Death After Oscar Winner Crossed a Line

Diya Majumdar

Senior Writer

Articles Published :2410

Diya Majumdar is a Senior Content Writer at FandomWire with over 2000 published articles on the website. Since 2022, she has been working as an entertainment journalist with a special focus on films and pop culture.Among the countless genres and themes of Hollywood, the ones that particularly favor Diya’s tastes include Game of Thrones, DC, and well-aged thrillers and classics.

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Frank sinatraLeonardo DiCaprioMartin Scorsese

Zac Efron over Leonardo DiCaprio for Frank Sinatra

“Hall of fame of dumb f**king decisions”: Zac Efron’s The Iron Claw Oscar Snub is the Greatest Tragedy in Academy History, Fans Claim