Hollywood star Willem Dafoe is one of the actors who is often seen playing a villain on screen, one of which also includes the role of Green Goblin in Spider-Man. However, despite often being cast as the story’s antagonist, the actor has showcased his versatility in several movies, whether it’s playing a mentor to John Wick and Aquaman or the kindly manager in The Florida Project.
One such movie also includes the 1988 film The Last Temptation of Christ, in which he played the role of Jesus. However, the actor later shared that he was taken aback by Sergio Leone’s remarks about him after he starred in Martin Scorsese’s epic religious drama film.
Sergio Leone’s Critical Remark on Willem Dafoe Playing Jesus
Willem Dafoe starred in the lead role of Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s 1988 film The Last Temptation Of Christ. Based on Nikos Kazantzakis’s controversial novel of the same name, the movie features one of the best performances of the actor.
The director of the film took a more down-to-earth approach to the story, portraying Jesus as a character who also struggled with human flaws. While it received positive reviews from critics, the movie was also surrounded by several controversies.
One of the reasons the movie reportedly received backlash was also Dafoe’s casting. And it appears that the Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone also believed the same, as he once told the actor, “That is the face of a murderer, not of Our Lord,” as per IMDb.
While Leone’s remark seemed rude, it could also be considered foreseen, as Dafoe is known for playing the antagonist in several films. The actor has the perfect voice, body language, and expressions to play a villain, and he has given incredible performances as one in movies like The Lighthouse, Wild At Heart, and Spider-Man.
Martin Scorsese Spent Years Working on The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ was surrounded by controversies since the very beginning. Martin Scorsese shared during an interview that he received a copy of Nikos Kazantzakis’s novel in 1972 through actress Barbara Hershey.
However, it took him six years to finish the book. “I’d pick it up, put it down, reread it, be enveloped by the beautiful language of it,” he told Film Comment. Once he finished the book, screenwriter Paul Schrader started working on its script.
The filmmaker first pitched the movie to Paramount, and the production was expected to start in 1983, with Aidan Quin reportedly cast in the lead role. However, it was canceled due to the backlash and protests from religious groups. Later, Universal Pictures expressed their interest in producing the movie with one condition.
As per IMDb, they wanted the filmmaker to make a commercial film with the studio after the 1988 film. Scorsese agreed to their terms and made the film with a budget of $7 million and made the 1991 psychological thriller Cape Fear as per his deal with Universal Pictures.
The Last Temptation of Christ is available on Prime Video.
