As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of gaming under my belt, I can certainly relate to Eric Roberts’ experiences as a professional actor. In our respective fields, we often find ourselves at crossroads where one decision can significantly alter the course of our careers. The story of Roberts turning down the role of Jesus in Martin Scorsese‘s “The Last Temptation of Christ” is an intriguing tale of what-ifs and lost opportunities.
Eric Roberts thinks that Martin Scorsese might be holding a grudge against him.
Roberts, well-known for his roles in films like King of the Gypsies (1978), Runaway Train (1985), The Dark Knight (2008), and numerous others, has recently released a memoir titled “Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far.” You can now purchase this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, local bookstores, and various other outlets.
A passage from the book posted by @JFrankensteiner indicates that Roberts alleges Scorsese harbors resentment towards him because Roberts declined the role of Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ, which was released in 1988 and directed by Scorsese.
Why does Eric Roberts think Martin Scorsese holds a grudge against him?
When Martin Scorsese requested that I try out for the role of Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ, I saw it as an opportunity to escape the limitations of typecasting and collaborate with a genius. Over five auditions, I had one of the most exciting screen tests of my career, alongside Harvey Keitel. Keitel is particularly valuable for actors because he brings out the best in his co-stars. Scorsese offered me the part, but upon advice from my manager, I declined.
Roberts described his thoughts as follows: “At that moment, the comment seemed logical to me. Treusch stated that taking on the role of Jesus was almost a curse. Whether he was onto something or not, refusing the part affected my potential relationship with Scorsese significantly. ‘The Last Temptation’ was essentially Scorsese’s creation from his time as a film student. He believed he had found his Jesus in me, so when I declined the offer, it angered him, and I can understand why.
Discovering Eric Roberts’ memoir (it’s fantastic, by the way!) feels like a serendipitous moment.
— John Frankensteiner (@JFrankensteiner) September 19, 2024
Roberts mentioned that he tried out for the film as a way to get noticed by Scorsese. When he shared this with Scorsese, Scorsese replied, “You certainly managed to grab my notice.
Had I portrayed Jesus in ‘The Last Temptation,’ there might have been other films with him, but I declined his offer for his child and I regret that decision. It seems that he may still harbor resentment towards me over this incident.
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2024-09-19 20:41