Martin Scorsese wants Al Pacino and Robert De Niro for his Sinatra biopic?

Martin Scorsese continues to talk up his SINATRA biopic.

The last time he talked about the project, the legendary filmmaker gave us a bit of interesting insight as to how he might approach the film. Here’s what he said: “…like The Aviator, it only deals with certain times in his life. We can’t go through the greatest hits of Sinatra’s life. We tried this already. Just can’t do it. So the other way to go is to have three or four different Sinatras. Younger. Older. Middle-aged. Very old. You cut back and forth in time – and you do it through the music. See what I’m saying? So that’s what we’re trying for. It’s very tricky [laughs].”

Many names have been tossed around in regards to the casting of Ol’ Blue Eyes (names like Leo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, etc.) though all have been purely speculative. But while doing the press rounds in India for SHUTTER ISLAND (which was just released there this past weekend), national publication The Hindu caught a quote from Scorsese indicating for the first time who he’d like to see in his picture:

“I’ve had it in mind for a long time. Even the initial script is ready. I’m yet to spot the actor who can bring back Frank Sinatra alive on screen. My choice is Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro as Dean Martin.”

Holy shit, what?! While the idea is a ridiculously awesome one for fans of Scorsese, Pacino, and De Niro, the director’s words should probably be taken with a huge grain of salt considering that if SINATRA does get made, it wouldn’t happen till after THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, SILENCE (his Jesuit priest drama), and probably THE IRISHMAN (with Bobby De Niro). And anything could happen between now and then.

But, still, the idea is an interesting one to mull over. What say you?