Apple TV’s docuseries Mr. Scorsese takes a deep look at the life of one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time. Martin Scorsese has been making movies since 1967, creating several seminal works in a variety of genres. From his earlier work in movies like Taxi Driver and After Hours to recent movies like The Irishman or Killers of the Flower Moon, the director has continued to stay at the top of his game, in no small part thanks to his frequent collaborators, many of whom are interviewed for the series. One key creative, however, didn’t want to participate.
Given Scorsese’s influence and impact on the film industry and the many actors he’s worked with, it’s no surprise that so many were willing to weigh in on his process and what his films mean to them. The five-part series documents Scorsese’s early childhood, his initial rise to fame, personal struggles, and where he is today. While Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jodie Foster, and many others were willing to appear, one of his earliest collaborators, Joe Pesci, didn’t want to be interviewed.
Mr. Scorsese director Rebecca Miller told Variety that Pesci was “the only person who said ‘no,'” adding that “he really didn’t want to be interviewed for this.” As it turns out, the reason for his decision can be found in the documentary itself, in which Scorsese talks about Pesci’s process and what exactly helped to make the performances in his films so convincing.
Joe Pesci Pulled From Real Life Inspirations For His Work in Martin Scorsese’s Films
Miller expounded on the reason for Pesci’s absence, saying, “Marty explains it a little bit in the documentary. He talks about how Joe just doesn’t want to talk about the experiences that made him so perfect for this kind of role.” Famously, some of Pesci’s improvised scenes in GoodFellas were born from interactions he actually witnessed, which helped to play into the authenticity of the world Scorsese created. His commitment to the roles led to him being uncomfortable speaking about them; as Miller put it, “Joe was marked far worse than Marty was by those people. I don’t think he wants to go over all that.”
It’s commendable to see the level of commitment Pesci brought to movies like Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and most recently, The Irishman, and how important he’s been to Scorsese as a fellow creative who’s helped bring the director’s stories to life. While Pesci may not want to look back and discuss what made his performances so legendary, the movies will always speak for themselves. Still, should fans of the filmmaker want more insight into who he is, Mr. Scorsese is a comprehensive documentary that features plenty of other prominent perspectives on the acclaimed director.
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Directors
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Rebecca Miller