Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have a long history of working together, but their upcoming collaboration on the biopic, Sinatra, promises to continue an unusual trend. The pair have made some wildly successful films that have produced some of the best performances of DiCaprio’s career. Scorsese and DiCaprio have a surprising history when it comes to other collaborators – something Sinatra is set to continue.
Sinatra will feature DiCaprio as the titular singer alongside Jennifer Lawrence as Sinatra’s second wife, Ava Gardner (per Variety). The movie has long been a passion project for Scorsese, though little is currently known about its precise contents. However, DiCaprio’s pairing with Lawrence promises an exciting reunion, following the pair’s collaboration in the satirical comedy Don’t Look Up. Lawrence has carved a stunning career, taking on challenging and complex roles, and has proven she’s an actress who’s not afraid to take risks. This means she is perfectly placed to end a surprising Scorsese and DiCaprio movie trend.
The partnership between Scorsese and DiCaprio has produced some of the best films of the past two decades, bringing an all-star cast to tell compelling stories. Yet, despite working with some of Hollywood’s finest performers, the pair still haven’t had another female star return. Scorsese films have been criticized in some quarters for over-indexing male characters, with the director himself controversially saying that he “doesn’t have time” to write more female roles (via The Independent). Whether or not the criticism is valid, it’s undeniable that every DiCaprio/Scorsese project has featured a different leading actress.
Lawrence’s potential inclusion in multiple Scorsese/DiCaprio projects would mark a significant shift in the director’s casting patterns, perhaps demonstrating a newfound appreciation for the director’s female collaborators. Lawrence’s versatility and proven box office draw make her the perfect choice for more prominent roles in Scorsese’s future films. The unique dynamic she brings, coupled with her established chemistry with DiCaprio, might be what Scorsese needs to continue telling rich stories but with a subtle appreciation for female performers.