Mike Fleming

BREAKING: Martin Scorsese has fired back at Cecchi Gori Pictures after the company sued him for not directing Silence, the long gestating adaptation of the Shusako Endo novel. Cecchi Gori filed sued suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday claiming that Scorsese breached his agreement by not making it his next film. The director’s next is The Wolf Of Wall Street. I’ve followed Silence for years and while Scorsese had hoped to make it several times, getting funding for a film about a Jesuit missionary sent to 17th Century Japan hasn’t been an easy sell to financiers. Here’s Scorsese’s reply to the lawsuit:

“It is shocking to us that the lawyers for Cecchi Gori Pictures would file a suit pursuing such absurd claims considering the amicable working relationship existing between Martin Scorsese and the principals of Cecchi Gori Pictures.The claims asserted are completely contradicted by, inconsistent with, and contrary to the express terms of an agreement entered into by the parties last year.

The lawsuit filing on the eve of Mr. Scorsese starting another picture has all the earmarks of a media stunt.

Mr. Scorsese is confident that he will prevail in court should Cecchi Gori Pictures actually pursue this meritless action.”