Martin Scorsese Says Leonardo DiCaprio Convinced Director to Let Him Play Villain Instead of Hero in Killers

Martin Scorsese often found his film hero in Leonardo DiCaprio – but for Killers of the Flower Moonthe actor wanted to take on a different role.

DiCaprio, one of Scorsese’s most frequent collaborators, was originally slated to play FBI lead investigator Tom White in Killers of the Flower Moon, a white man brought to Oklahoma in the 1920s to investigate a series of murders in the Osage Nation. But when Scorsese’s story changed, DiCaprio was quick to suggest a personal rework as well.

According to WSJ. Magazine, Scorsese hoped to avoid the white savior trope, and ultimately decided not to anchor the film around the detective’s perspective. DiCaprio, the director said, suggested he instead play Ernest Burkhart, a man who marries an Osage woman (played by Lily Gladstone) but ends up embroiled in a vicious scheme to kill the Osage people for their oil money. White is now portrayed on screen by Jesse Plemons.

Leonardo DiCaprio (left) and Martin Scorsese.

Portfolio Rocco Spaziani/Archivio Spaziani/Mondadori via Getty; Mike Marsland/WireImage

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Scorsese’s script reversal was not so well received by everyone: “The studio said, ‘We supported the second version, we can’t support this one,'” he told WSJ. Magazine. Finally, Apple got involved after the show in the cinema, Killers of the Flower Moon will stream on Apple TV+.

Still, the ups and downs were “pretty scary” for Scorsese, 80. “During these dry spells, it’s pretty scary,” he told the paper, which quoted Scorsese considering “estate planning precautions.” The director said, “We’re at the end, in a way.”

Killers of the Flower Moon Cast Discusses Using ‘Authentic’ Osage Language in New Video (Exclusive)

Martin Scorsese.

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON for the WSJ. Magazine

Scorsese was interviewed as part of WSJ. Magazineannual edition and awards for innovators. He’s an Oscar winner WSJ. Magazine‘with film innovator of the year and covers the issue, in newsstands November 11. There will be a total of seven covers representing each of this year’s award winners.

“Significant innovation, the kind that legacies are made of, can be a little hard to define in the abstract — but it’s never hard to spot once it’s left an indelible mark on the world,” Sarah Ball, Editor-in-Chief WSJ. Magazine, says LJUDI in a statement. “The seven innovators we celebrate are an inspiration to anyone who finds hope in the power of ideas to create a better world.”

Previous honorees include Kim Kardashian West, Eddie Murphy, Ryan Reynolds and others.

Martin Scorsese.

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON for the WSJ. Magazine

Killers of the Flower Moon is based on the 2017 bestseller of the same name by David Grann. The cast also includes Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, William Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Tatanka Means, Michael Abbott Jr., Pat Healy, Scott Shepard, Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone Star in Epic New ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Trailer

The film features actors speaking the authentic Osage language, a choice Scorsese explained in an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip previously provided to PEOPLE. “We’re making a movie about a historical event that’s key to Osage history, so of course it’s important that we speak that language,” he said.

“This is the 1920s, where people still spoke the Osage language every day,” noted Geoffrey Standing Bear, Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, in the same recording.

Killers of the Flower Moon it’s in theaters on October 20.

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Source: HIS Education