Two of Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated projects, The Life of Jesus and a biopic about Frank Sinatra, have been placed on indefinite hold. According to Variety, both films were well into the pre-production stage before this unexpected delay occurred.

Initially, concerns arose that Scorsese's health might be the reason for the postponement. However, it seems that other factors may be influencing the status of these films.

Variety speculates that complications with the Sinatra estate could be behind the cancellation of a planned filming date for the Sinatra biopic, which was set for November. Without the approval of the Sinatra family, it remains uncertain whether the project will go ahead.

The film is expected to explore the turbulent period during which Sinatra’s affair with Ava Gardner led to the breakdown of his marriage to Nancy Barbato, who is the mother of Tina Sinatra, the current head of the estate.

As for The Life of Jesus, Scorsese revealed his intentions to make the film in May 2023, following a meeting with Pope Francis. The project is based on the novel A Life of Jesus by Shūsaku Endō, published in 1973, and comes from the same author as Silence, another Scorsese film. Although Scorsese reportedly planned to finance the film himself and had secured the rights, the reason for its current pre-production standstill remains unclear.