Leonardo DiCaprio to Play Frank Sinatra in Martin Scorsese's Biopic, Jennifer Lawrence in Talks for Ava Gardner Role

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to portray the legendary singer and actor Frank Sinatra in a new biopic directed by Martin Scorsese. Jennifer Lawrence is also in talks to play Sinatra's second wife, Ava Gardner, in the film. However, the project is currently pending approval from Sinatra's daughter, Tina Sinatra, who controls his estate.

Scorsese has been trying to make a Sinatra biopic for many years. In 2009, he had plans to cast multiple actors to portray the singer at different stages of his life, but the project was shelved due to Tina Sinatra's concerns about the "hard-hitting" and "violent, sexually charged, hard-drinking" portrayal of her father. "The Sinatra family did not agree to Scorsese's previous plans, leading him to abandon the project in 2017," according to one of the summaries.

Now, Scorsese is relaunching the biopic with DiCaprio, his frequent collaborator, in the lead role. This would mark their seventh feature film together. However, Tina Sinatra's approval is still needed for the project to move forward. "Tina is seen as hesitant to approve the project due to Ava Gardner's role in breaking up Sinatra's marriage to Tina's mother, Nancy Barbato," a summary states.

The film is expected to focus on the turbulent relationship between Sinatra and Gardner, who were married from 1951 to 1957. Their marriage was marked by public fights and dramatic incidents, such as when they were arrested in 1949 for shooting out streetlights and a hardware store window while drunk in Palm Springs.

Despite the challenges, the project is drawing interest from major studios and streamers, with Sony said to be the frontrunner to acquire it. Apple has also expressed interest in financing the film. Scorsese is reportedly planning to shoot the Sinatra biopic back-to-back with another project about Jesus, which may potentially star Andrew Garfield and Miles Teller.

Why this matters: The long-awaited Sinatra biopic, if approved, would bring together the powerhouse duo of Scorsese and DiCaprio in a film about one of the most iconic entertainers of the 20th century. The project's success hinges on securing the support of Sinatra's daughter, highlighting the importance of estate approval in biopics of legendary figures.

As the project continues to develop, fans eagerly await further updates on the casting and production timeline. The involvement of A-list stars like DiCaprio and Lawrence, combined with Scorsese's directorial prowess, has generated significant buzz around the potential Sinatra biopic. However, until Tina Sinatra gives her blessing, the film remains in limbo, leaving audiences to speculate about how this chapter of Hollywood history will unfold.

Key Takeaways

• Leonardo DiCaprio to play Frank Sinatra in Scorsese biopic, pending Tina Sinatra's approval.
• Jennifer Lawrence in talks to portray Sinatra's second wife, Ava Gardner.
• Scorsese's previous Sinatra biopic plans were shelved due to Tina Sinatra's concerns.
• Film to focus on Sinatra's turbulent relationship with Gardner, his second wife.
• Major studios and streamers, including Sony and Apple, are interested in the project.