The actor who made a career-long enemy of Martin Scorsese: “He holds a grudge to this day”
There are not many actors who would turn down the chance to work with Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest living filmmakers who has permanently changed the landscape of cinema through his dauntless and thoughtful approach to filmmaking. History was forever changed after the release of Taxi Driver in 1976, a film that startled audiences through its dark and seedy portrayal of New York and the blistering loneliness of a man who had slipped through the cracks.
After this, the director only expanded on his exploration of the underdog through films such as Raging Bull, The King of Comedy and The Wolf of Wall Street, often looking at characters who are somewhat ostracised from society, whether it be the high circles of the New York elite in The Age of Innocence or a former solider in Shutter Island. However, there is perhaps one character who is most recognised for this struggle, with one performer turning down the chance to play a more influential character.
Scorsese has made films about many real-life people over the years, whether it be Wall Street tycoon Jordan Belfort or Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon. However, he built a film around one character who is perhaps one of the most globally recognised figures of all time through his 1988 film The Last Temptation of Christ.
The Last Temptation of Christ follows the life of Jesus, a carpenter who is drawn into revolutionary action against the Roman occupiers, with the burden of being humanity’s saviour beginning to torment him. The definitive role of Jesus Christ himself is played by none other than Willem Dafoe, with Harvey Keitel playing Judas. The production is one of the most ambitious that Scorsese has helmed, with intense scrutiny over how he would adapt a story that holds so much weight for many people.
However, while Dafoe shines in the role, there was one other actor who was up for the part and actually turned it down. Eric Roberts has not lived it down to this day, and spoke about being intimidated by the part and his lasting regret over this ungodly decision.
Roberts explained his early involvement in the project, saying, “So when I was asked by Marty Scorsese to audition for the role of Jesus in The Last Temptations of Christ, I thought, ‘Here’s my chance to break out of the straightjacket of typecasting and work with a master’. We had about five auditions and the coolest screen test I’ve ever had with Harvey Keitel. Harvey’s an especially good actor for other actors to audition or work with. Scorsese offered me the part but, on the advice of my manager, I turned it down.”
When asked why he turned it down, he replied, “I gotta tell you, nobody gets away with playing Jesus.”
While there might have been other Scorsese projects for Roberts to work on, he suspects that his rejection of this role might have butchered his relationship with the filmmaker forever. “The movies we could have made together! I think he holds a grudge against me to this day.”
