Miles Teller, known for Whiplash and Top Gun: Maverick, recently addressed rumors about his role in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film about the life of Jesus. He firmly denied the speculation, clarifying that he has had no discussions with Scorsese’s team about the project, despite widespread reports and ongoing fan interest in the casting.
Miles Teller confirms he’s not playing Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s new movie
At the premiere of The Gorge, Teller told Variety, “No-o-o-o-o,” when asked about the speculation, adding that he called his agent to ensure they had not missed any offer from Scorsese’s camp.
Reports from early 2024 indicated that Scorsese considered both Teller and Andrew Garfield for leading roles in his adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s 1973 novel A Life of Jesus. Teller acknowledged that working with Scorsese would be significant, stating, “I think any actor, if Martin Scorsese offers you something, you say ‘Yes,’ and I’ll figure it out.” However, he confirmed that Scorsese’s team had not contacted him.
Scorsese’s The Life of Jesus was expected to begin filming in fall 2024 but was delayed due to the director’s extensive production plans and potential logistical challenges in filming locations like Israel, Italy, and Egypt. Scorsese has also announced a potential film adaptation of Marilynne Robinson’s Home, which might take precedence over the Jesus project.
The veteran filmmaker told the AP News, “It’s an option but I’m still working on it.” He further added, “There’s a very strong possibility of me doing a film version of Marilynne Robinson’s Home, but that’s a scheduling issue.” He also noted, “Time is going. I’ll be 82. Gotta go.”
In May 2023, Scorsese announced plans for the Jesus movie after meeting Pope Francis. His next project now appears to be The Devil in the White City with Leonardo DiCaprio. The film recently transitioned from a Hulu series to a theatrical release under 20th Century Studios.
