Variety reports that director Martin Scorsese wants to have the screenplay Silence be his next movie.

Scorsese and Graham King's GK Films are talking with Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro to star in the main roles. Also in talks to be in the film is Gael Garcia Bernal. The production is expected to start in late 2009 in New Zealand.

The story is set in the 17th century where Jesuit priests travel to Japan to spread the word of the good book.

The script is based on a novel of the same name by Shusaku Endo. Jay Cocks did the adaptation.

At present the project has no domestic distributor. Graham King will be financing the movie himself.