Martin Scorsese is going to bring the "Body and Soul" of Frank Sinatra to the big screen with a biopic called Sinatra. He is going to direct and produce the film. (I'm sure he'll be saying, "I did it 'My Way,'" also). The project has been in secret development for over two years, with Universal Pictures and Mandalay Pictures producers Peter Guber and Cathy Schulman working furiously to secure the rights to the life and rights of the singer from his Frank Sinatra Enterprises. That group is a combination of the Sinatra estate and Warner Music Group.

With the film's script being written by Phil Alden Robinson, producer Schulman has described the project as "an unconventional biopic that will touch on all the phases of Sinatra's life."

A deal has been made by the producers to use the original Sinatra recordings, which will make choosing an actor by vocal ability to play Frankie not an issue.

Originally, it was thought that Scorsese's oft-used Leonardo DiCaprio would play Sinatra. However, today it was rumored at deadlinehollywooddaily.com around the Universal Pictures grapevine that Johnny Depp is being considered by the studio, which would mark the actor's first project with Scorsese.

Said Tina Sinatra, daughter of Frank: "My father had great admiration for the talent of the people that he chose to work with, and the talented people who worked with my father had great admiration for him. It is personally pleasing that this paradigm continues with Marty Scorsese at the helm of the Sinatra film."

"We have dreamed of making a movie about Frank Sinatra, and Marty Scorsese is undeniably the perfect vision keeper for this project," said Guber.

The former president of worldwide music distribution at Warner Bros., Gary LaMel, will produce alongside Tina Sinatra and Robinson.

This is great. Scorsese really is one of the best directors handle a life as "intricate" as Sinatra. Considering the many stories in the singer's life (possible Mafia connections, friendship with JFK, love affairs), I am going to assume this will be one beefy film. So who better to tell us about such a signature Hollywood icon than Scorsese? Personally, this exciting news could "Fly Me To The Moon," as I'm sure that Scorsese will go through his "Pocketful Full of Miracles," trying to make his biopic "Nothing But The Best." Ok. Done with the Sinatra puns, just in case I say "Somethin' Stupid."

Source: Variety