The Scorsese Slate: 5 Epic New Martin Scorsese Movies Confirmed For 2026 And Beyond

As of December 15, 2025, the legendary Martin Scorsese is not slowing down—in fact, his upcoming production slate is one of the most ambitious of his career. Following the critical success of *Killers of the Flower Moon*, the 83-year-old director has multiple projects lined up, but the most concrete and confirmed next film is a major genre departure: a ghost story/thriller set to begin principal photography in early 2026. This new era for Scorsese promises a mix of his signature crime epics, historical sagas, and deeply personal religious reflections, ensuring that the master filmmaker’s legacy continues to grow with fresh and unexpected narrative choices. The immediate focus for the director, and the one that has generated the most buzz, is a high-profile reunion with his two most recent collaborators, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, for a chilling adaptation of a modern novel. This project, along with a maritime disaster epic and a black-and-white film about the life of Jesus, confirms that Scorsese is determined to tackle a diverse range of cinematic challenges in the coming years.

Martin Scorsese: A Complete Biography & Profile

Martin Charles Scorsese, born on November 17, 1942, in Flushing, New York, is an American and Italian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and film historian. Raised in the neighborhood of Little Italy, his upbringing profoundly influenced the themes of Italian-American identity, Catholicism, and organized crime that permeate his work.

• Full Name: Martin Charles Scorsese
• Born: November 17, 1942 (Age: 83 as of December 2025)
• Birthplace: Flushing, Queens, New York, U.S.
• Education: New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts (M.A. in Fine Arts, Film Directing)
• Key Collaborators: Robert De Niro (10 films), Leonardo DiCaprio (6 films), Thelma Schoonmaker (Editor), Michael Ballhaus (Cinematographer)
• Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Director (*The Departed*), AFI Life Achievement Award, Palme d'Or (*Taxi Driver*), multiple Golden Globes and BAFTAs.
• Other Roles: Founder of The Film Foundation and the World Cinema Foundation, dedicated to film preservation.
• Signature Themes: Guilt, redemption, faith, toxic masculinity, organized crime, and the exploration of American identity.

The Confirmed Next Film: What Happens at Night (2026 Production)

The next major feature film on Martin Scorsese's calendar is an adaptation of Peter Cameron's 2017 novel, *What Happens at Night*. This project marks a significant stylistic shift for the director, as it is described as a psychological thriller with elements of a ghost story, a genre he has rarely explored in a feature-length capacity. This is the seventh cinematic partnership between Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Production Timeline:

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After a period of speculation, the project has moved into pre-production, with principal photography now officially targeted to begin in early 2026. Different production lists point to a start date between January and April 2026, most likely in New York City.

Cast and Plot Details:

The film is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence, who will be reuniting with Scorsese after their collaboration on *Don't Look Up* (which Scorsese produced). The plot of *What Happens at Night* centers on an American couple who travel to a remote, snowbound European city during the winter. They check into a dilapidated, empty hotel with the intention of adopting a child. As the days pass, the atmosphere of the hotel and the unsettling nature of the city begin to erode their relationship and their sanity, blurring the lines between reality and a supernatural presence. This intimate, high-stakes psychological drama is a departure from the grand scale of *Killers of the Flower Moon* and offers a fresh canvas for Scorsese's meticulous direction.

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The Future Slate: Three Blockbuster Projects in Development

Beyond his immediate production, Scorsese has several other high-profile films in various stages of development. These projects showcase his ongoing commitment to historical epics, religious themes, and musical biopics, confirming that he is maintaining an unprecedented pace for a filmmaker of his stature.

1. The Wager: A Tale of Mutiny and Shipwreck

One of the most anticipated projects is the adaptation of David Grann's non-fiction book, *The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder*. Following their successful collaboration on Grann’s *Killers of the Flower Moon*, Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are set to re-team for this 18th-century maritime saga.

• The Plot: Set in the 1740s, the story follows the harrowing true events surrounding a British vessel, the HMS Wager, that was wrecked off the coast of Patagonia. A group of emaciated survivors eventually arrived in Brazil, proclaiming themselves heroes. Months later, a second group of survivors arrived, accusing the first group of mutiny. The ensuing naval court-martial exposed a brutal tale of survival, class conflict, and the moral ambiguities of life at sea.
• Status: The project is currently in development with Apple Original Films. It is expected to be a massive production, similar in scale to *Killers of the Flower Moon*, and is widely considered the next major epic for the director and DiCaprio.

2. A Life of Jesus: The Personal, 80-Minute Reflection

Scorsese has confirmed plans to shoot an 80-minute feature film about the life of Jesus, a deeply personal project inspired by Shūsaku Endō’s book, *A Life of Jesus*. This follows his earlier adaptation of Endō's novel, *Silence* (2016).

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• The Vision: The film is intended to be short, around 80 minutes, and is planned to be shot in black and white. Scorsese stated his goal is to "take away the negativity" often associated with modern religious films and instead focus on the core teachings of Jesus in a way that is accessible and non-dogmatic.
• Significance: This project is a return to a theme central to Scorsese's career, but in a stripped-down, more meditative format. It is possible this smaller-scale film could be shot quickly, potentially fitting into the director's schedule between the larger productions of *What Happens at Night* and *The Wager*.

3. The Frank Sinatra Biopic

The long-gestating biopic of legendary singer Frank Sinatra is another high-profile project that Martin Scorsese is actively looking to revive. The director has been attached to the project for years, and recent updates suggest he is revisiting his plans with his muse, Leonardo DiCaprio, in the lead role.

• The Lineup: Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to play the iconic Frank Sinatra, with Jennifer Lawrence also rumored to be attached in a key role, possibly as Sinatra’s second wife, Ava Gardner.
• The Challenge: The film has faced previous hurdles, including securing the full cooperation of the Sinatra estate. However, the renewed interest from Scorsese, DiCaprio, and Lawrence suggests that a major push is underway to bring "Ol' Blue Eyes" to the screen under the direction of the master filmmaker.

The Scorsese Legacy Continues: Topical Authority and LSI Keywords

Martin Scorsese's incredible productivity in his ninth decade is a testament to his passion for cinema. His current slate is a masterclass in topical authority, touching on nearly every major theme of his career: the crime genre (the rumored Untitled Hawaii Crime Movie), religious reflection (*A Life of Jesus*), historical epics (*The Wager*), and deep character studies (*What Happens at Night*). The continued collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio, now on their seventh and eighth films, solidifies their partnership as one of the most important director-actor pairings in cinema history, following the legendary run Scorsese had with Robert De Niro on classics like *Goodfellas* and *Casino*. Fans are eagerly awaiting news on which of these cinematic entities will hit theaters first after *What Happens at Night* wraps its production in 2026.