Netflix Reportedly Leading the Race for Scorsese’s $200M Crime Epic Starring DiCaprio, The Rock & Blunt

A new crime movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, and Emily Blunt has sparked a fierce bidding war among major studios. The project, set in Hawaii during the ‘60s and ‘70s, follows an ambitious mobster (played by Johnson) fighting for control of the island’s underworld.

Netflix, which previously backed Scorsese’s The Irishman, is currently the frontrunner to acquire the film, though Amazon, Apple, and Warner Bros. are also in the race. With a massive budget of around $200 million, the project is likely to go to the highest bidder—something Scorsese typically prioritizes.

Netflix appears ready to outspend its competitors, even though it won’t offer a major theatrical release. Instead, the film is expected to get a short theatrical run, just enough for awards consideration, similar to The Irishman in 2019.

The screenplay is being written by journalist and filmmaker Nick Bilton, but production won’t start anytime soon. DiCaprio is already committed to filming a Damien Chazelle movie this summer, meaning Scorsese’s crime film likely won’t begin shooting until 2026. In the meantime, Scorsese may work on another smaller project, possibly an adaptation of Home by Marilynne Robinson.

With such a star-studded cast and a legendary director at the helm, this Hawaii-set crime thriller is shaping up to be a major awards contender—whenever it finally hits the screen.

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