Garfield Leads Scorsese's "Silence"

The Amazing Spider-Man’s Andrew Garfield will star in director Martin Scorsese's "Silence" says Variety.

Based upon author Shūsaku Endō's novel, the story follows 17th century Jesuits who risk their lives to bring Christianity to Japan. The story follows Father Rodriguez (Garfield), a Portuguese Jesuit priest who travels to Japan to confront his mentor, after rumors surfaced that he had abandoned the church.

Ken Watanabe will portray Father Rodriguez' Japanese interpreter. Japanese actor Issei Ogata also stars in an unspecified role.

Scorsese and Jay Cocks wrote the adapted script and talks are underway with Graham King for his ownership stake in the screenplay.

Irwin Winkler, Randall Emmett George Furla, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Vittorio Cecchi Gori, and Barbara DeFina will produce.

Production hopes to begin in Taiwan in July of next year, the film will follow "The Wolf Of Wall Street" which is now in post.

Scorsese has reportedly been interesting in pursuing this project since 1991, and over the years has considered Daniel Day-Lewis, Benicio Del Toro and Gael Garcia Bernal to star.