“I wanted to make something like this after Raging Bull,” Scorsese remarked during a panel discussion following a premiere event for The Saints. After that 1980 film, he planned to leave Hollywood behind and partner with Italy’s RAI Television, which had produced similar passion projects with famed directors like Roberto Rossellini. But that version never came together, and the idea sat on the shelf until he and Leshem met in 2017 for what was supposed to be a 30-minute pitch session.“Three hours later, we were still in that meeting,” Leshem…
