It has been over 30 years since the theatrical release of Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader’s controversial The Last Temptation of Christ, and now it seems like the long-time collaborators are looking to adapt another biblical drama project. In a recent interview with The New Yorker, when asked about the possibility of him making content for streaming platforms, Schrader revealed that he and Scorsese are actually working on their potential reunion project which is a multi-season series about the origins of Christianity. He also confirmed that it would indeed be in the same vein as their 1988 religious drama film.
“Yeah. Well, Scorsese and I are planning something,” Schrader said. “And it is . . . it would be a three-year series about the origins of Christianity.”
He continued to tease the potential story of the series by revealing that it will be based on the Apostles.
“It’s based on the Apostles and on the Apocrypha,” Schrader revealed. “It’s called The Apostles and Apocrypha. Because people sort of know the New Testament, but nobody knows the Apocrypha. And back in the first century, there was no New Testament, there’s just these stories. And some were true, and some weren’t, and some were forgeries.”
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Schrader and Scorsese’s partnership started with 1976’s Robert De Niro-led Taxi Driver which won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, they’ve continued to work together on other iconic films such as Bringing Out the Dead, The Last Temptation of Christ and Raging Bull. Should their upcoming project secure a series order, this would mark their first TV collaboration.
The untitled religious drama series might potentially head to Apple TV+ as Scorsese previously signed a first-look and multi-year deal with Apple Studios to develop films and television shows exclusively for Apple TV+. The Irishman director is currently in production for the film adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon which will be led by Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Schrader’s most recent project was the 2017 drama film First Reformed starring Ethan Hawke which had given him his first Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. He is still in post-production for his upcoming crime drama film The Card Counter starring Oscar Isaac and Tye Sheridan. Production on the project was temporarily shut down last year due to the ongoing pandemic.
