Biblical Epic About a Stoned Jesus May Never Be Released… But Not Because of the Obvious Controversy

It has been six years since Terrence Malick last released a film, with 2019’s A Hidden Life. The acclaimed filmmaker is best known for his work on movies such as The Tree of Life and Knight of Cups, with any project Malick develops garnering plenty of anticipation. Unfortunately, the director’s latest project, The Way of the Wind, may not end up being released at all if one news report is to be believed. What’s most perplexing about this news is the fact that the project has already been filmed, with the key reason for the seemingly indefinite delay being an aspect of post-production.

In a feature written for The Telegraph, it’s reported that The Way of the Wind is stuck in post production, with the possibility of it never being released. Malick’s film was shot back in 2019 under the working title The Last Planet, and would focus on the life of Jesus Christ, featuring an expansive cast. In a vein similar to Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ, Malick’s film will take a different approach to the classic biblical story. Starring Géza Röhrig as Jesus, Mark Rylance as Satan, and Matthias Schoenaerts as Peter, The Way of the Wind has been described as unconventional in its rendition of Christ by those involved.

While this film may sound like something that could prove to be controversial for religious audiences, what’s keeping The Way of the Wind from being released is the editing process. Per The Telegraph’s report, there is supposedly over 3,000 hours of footage that has been shot for the movie, meaning there is plenty still to cut before the project becomes something presentable. Malick had even said that the movie is “nowhere near finished.”

‘The Way of the Wind’ Could End Up Being a Victim of Terrence Malick’s Perfectionism

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Greenhill Productions
Studio Babelsberg
Pistachio Pictures

The Way of the Wind features plenty of unexpected creative choices, as the report mentions that not only will Jesus not be performing any miracles in the film, but that there will be scenes in the film which depict him smoking cannabis. More specific descriptions include a 28-minute monologue from Rylance as Satan, with Malick leaning into the philosophical aspects of the story, which is unsurprising given the filmmaker’s track record. The deeply profound and meditative filmography Malick has become known for has been the result of a long and carefully thought-out creative process.

Another hallmark of Malick’s work is his perfectionism, and is something that the Telegraph indicates could be a reason for the movie’s continued delay. The editing process for The Way of the Wind may lead to the inevitable cancellation of the project. Malick’s meticulous approach to filmmaking could undo the entire project, unless he soon somehow finds satisfaction in the story he’s telling. Whenever a creative has an uncompromising vision, it often leads to powerful works of art. All that remains to be seen is if Malick finds a way to prevent The Way of the Wind from becoming one of the great lost works of cinema.