Scorsese tackles Sinatra biopic scripted by Robinson; Guber, Schulman producing (DHD, VAR, THR)

By R. Kinsey Lowe

It looks like the legendary Frank Sinatra will get the big screen biography he deserved.

Universal Pictures has acquired the project to be directed by Martin Scorsese from Phil Alden Robinson's screenplay with Peter Guber and Cathy Schulman producing, according to Deadline Hollywood Daily, Variety and the Hollywood Reporter.

The project has the blessing of the Sinatra family, and youngest daughter Tina Sinatra will serve as an executive producer with Robinson and former Warner Bros. Music president Garry LeMel.

No actor has been chosen, although Schulman suggested that Leonardo DiCaprio would be an obvious candidate, given his continuing association with Scorsese on four previous movies.

Sinatra's recordings will be used in the movie, so it won't be crucial for an actor to have a great singing voice.

Negotiations with the notoriously protective Sinatra family were particularly protracted and complicated -- at one point bogged down over apparel merchandising rights, of all things -- but ultimately they trusted Scorsese to handle Sinatra's story with care. The life and music rights are controlled by Frank Sinatra Enterprises — a joint venture of the Sinatra Estate and Warner Music Group.

Sinatra's life was rich with material for great storytelling. Born during the Depression, he built a singing career that endured across eras of changing popular tastes in music -- young girls screemed and swooned over him long before Elvis and the Beatles. He also had a very successful acting career and won a supporting actor Oscar for the memorable "From Here to Eternity."

His personal life was colorful, to say the least. He was alleged to have connections to organized crime, was married four times (Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow among them) and was a friend and frequent visitor of President Kennedy.

Sinatra died 11 years ago today.