Martin Scorsese to direct Sinatra biopic

After talking for years about wanting to make a film about Frank Sinatra, it looks like Martin Scorsese is finally making the dream a reality, as Universal confirmed today that they and development partner Mandalay Pictures have asked Scorsese to direct the film. This is, of course, the epic kind of news not heard often enough in Hollywood lately, and it feels just right that Mr. Scorsese will be the one guiding this story to the screen.

Mandalay and Universal have secured the rights to the story from the Sinatra family, the rights to use Sinatra’s music via Warner Music Group and a script by Phil Alden Robinson is already in progess, so the giant question looming now is, of course: who will play Frances Albert Sinatra?

The role is the stuff that Oscar dreams are made of, and it will be interesting to see if an established actor will win the right to play The Chairman of the Board, or if an unknown will get the break of a lifetime. Will they choose someone who has the right look, or go with someone who has the vocal capabilities to bring his classic songs and sound to life?

We’re also excited by the all the possibilities for intriguing supporting roles; there could actually be some interesting casting fights going on around Hollywood to play the likes of Ava Gardner, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., etc.

Have any ideas about who should play Mr. Sinatra?

The Universal press release follows:

Universal Pictures to Produce Sinatra, a Mandalay Pictures Production to be Directed by Martin Scorsese

Phil Alden Robinson writing screenplay based on life of Legendary American entertainer

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., May 13 /PRNewswire/ — Universal Pictures has acquired the feature film project Sinatra from Mandalay Pictures for Academy Award® winner Martin Scorsese to direct, it was announced today.

Oscar® nominated screenwriter (Field of Dreams) Phil Alden Robinson is writing the screenplay for Sinatra based on the life of the iconic entertainer. Universal Pictures and Mandalay Pictures have been developing the project, after securing the Frank Sinatra life rights and music rights from Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE) – a joint venture of the Sinatra Estate and Warner Music Group.

“We have dreamt of making a movie about Frank Sinatra, and Marty Scorsese is undeniably the perfect vision keeper for this project,” said Chairman of Mandalay Entertainment Group, Peter Guber. President of Mandalay Pictures, Cathy Schulman added “In addition to our excitement at having Marty in the director’s chair, we are thrilled to be in business with Universal, the Sinatra estate, Warner Music Group and the talented Phil Alden Robinson on this project about one of our greatest entertainers.”

“It’s an honor to be involved in this film which will celebrate the amazing life and work of Frank Sinatra,” said President of Production for Universal Pictures, Donna Langley. “With Phil Alden Robinson writing the screenplay and Martin Scorsese at the helm, we know that this first feature motion picture adaptation of Sinatra’s extraordinary life is in the best of hands.”

“My father had great admiration for the talent of the people he chose to work with, and the talented people who worked with my father had great admiration for him,” said Tina Sinatra. “It is personally pleasing to me that this paradigm continues with Marty Scorsese at the helm of the Sinatra film.”

Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1915. Over the course of his career, he performed on more than 1,400 musical recordings, was awarded 31 gold records, received 10 Grammy Awards in addition to three special honors bestowed upon him by the Recording Industry Association of America. He appeared in 58 films winning three Oscars® and two Golden Globe awards, in addition to a lifelong legacy of humanitarian work.

Guber and Schulman will produce the film for Mandalay Pictures with Scorsese producing on behalf of Sikelia Productions. Former President of Worldwide Music Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, Gary LeMel, Tina Sinatra and Robinson will serve as Executive Producers.

About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.

About Mandalay Pictures
Mandalay Pictures, a division of Mandalay Entertainment Group (www.mandalay.com), is a motion picture company which produces motion pictures for the global marketplace. Mandalay Pictures is under the stewardship of Chairman Peter Guber and President Cathy Schulman. Mandalay’s primary distributor relationship is through its first look deal with Universal Pictures. The company’s rich history of filmed entertainment includes the critically and commercially successful Donnie Brasco; the box office hit I Know What You Did Last Summer; and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Mandalay is currently preparing production for the Nick Cassavetes film Peaceable Kingdom and in development on projects including the adaptations of bestselling books Chasing Harry Winston and Dog On It, and The Limit with Tobey Maguire.

CONTACT: Kori Bernards of Universal Pictures, +1-818-777-7216, kori.bernards@nbcuni.com; or Amy Pfister, +1-323-556-9700, amy@fifteenminutes.com; or Lellie Capwell, +1-818-238-6246, Lellie.Capwell@SinatraEnterprises.com