Universal picks up rights to Sinatra catalogue; Report: Scorcese – Sinatra family clash over film..

Our previous post on the film here

Variety:

…Frank Sinatra Enterprises, a joint venture of Warner Music and the Sinatra estate, is expected to announce today UMG’s acquisition of 38 albums recorded by Sinatra for his own Reprise label, as well as 14 DVDs of performances. UMG has all rights outside North America to the works….

The Sinatra deal will include a re-release of his album “My Way” on its 40th anniversary. (Sinatra will also be the subject of the Twyla Tharp-choreographed “dance-ical” titled “Come Fly With Me,” set to premiere at Atlanta’s Alliance Theater next month.)

Sinatra recorded more than 1,500 songs and sold some 150 million platters in his long career. Rhino, the Warner Music arm that co-owns Frank Sinatra Enterprises, paid $50 million for its half of the venture….

In other news, the film is reportedly stirring up passionate disagreements among the players, as well as lining up stars vying for the lead role:

…director Martin Scorsese has apparently incurred the wrath of Frank Sinatra‘s family, with his plans for a biopic that focuses on the late singer’s alleged Mafia links.

Scorsese’s project, with the working title Sinatra, is the first feature film devoted to the life of the singer whose career encompassed 1,400 musical recordings and dozens of film appearances. But Tina Sinatra, the singer’s 61-year-old daughter and keeper of her father’s flame, is said to be unhappy with the “dark direction” of the film’s script.

According to the New York Post, Tina Sinatra – who Universal Pictures appointed as the film’s executive producer as part of its two-year negotiations to secure the rights to Sinatra’s life story and music – wants a more positive version of her father’s story to be told.

Scorsese, the director of several gangster films such as GoodFellas and Casino, signed up to direct Sinatra in May. A source told the newspaper: “Marty wants it to be hard-hitting and showcase the violent, sexually charged, hard-drinking Frank, but Tina wants to show the softer side of her dad and let the focus be on the music.”…

If the choices are Clooney, DiCaprio and Depp, I vote Johnny!

DigitalSpy:

…Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and Johnny Depp are allegedly being touted for the lead role in Martin Scorsese’s Sinatra.

According to the New York Post, the makers of the high-profile biopic are struggling to agree on which A-lister to cast as legendary Rat Pack crooner Frank Sinatra in the Phil Alden Robinson-scripted project.

Director Scorsese reportedly wants his Departed star DiCaprio in the lead role, while executive producer Tina Sinatra is keen for George Clooney to portray her father. Studio Universal, meanwhile, is eager to cast Johnny Depp in the coveted part….

*Video clip courtesy of steveedditon1969