It’s being reported that both Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro are in talks to star in Martin Scorsese‘s passion project, Silence. Scorsese has been keen on this project for around a decade and is apparently done thinking about it and is ready to make it happen.

Silence is based on the book of the same name by Shusaku Endo. It tells the fictional story of two priests who travel to Japan in 1638 upon hearing that their mentor has committed apostasy. When they arrive, they see that those associated with Christianity have been basically banished and anyone caught as having religious ties is forced to denounce their religion and their God by stepping on and desecrating the image of Christ; if they refuse, they’re hung upside down and cut so they bleed out until dead.

It’s also being reported that Gael Garcia Bernal is also in early talks to star in the movie. No word on who would play who. Bernal is one of the best actors out there who still isn’t a huge star. He’s offered up impressive performances in movies like Y Tu Mama Tambien, Babel, The Motorcycle Diaries, and The Science of Sleep.

If all falls into place, the movie would be produced by Graham King‘s GK Films along with Gianni Nunnari and Barbara DeFina. King has worked with Scorsese on many projects, including The Departed, Gangs of New York, and The Aviator.

No word on who would play who if this cast signed on, but seriously, would you need anything but this team of names to sell you? I didn’t think so. I will go out on a limb and say that, from what I’ve heard so far, Silence has a strong chance of nabbing a Best Picture nominee in maybe a year or two, no?

[Source: Variety]