Martin Scorsese's Silence gets first trailer

This passion project from the Goodfellas director has been in the works for nearly 30 years

For nearly three decades Martin Scorsese, the great director of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Wolf of Wall Street, has been trying to make Silence, an adaptation of Japanese writer Shusaku Endo’s 1966 novel about a Jesuit missionary in 17th century Japan. He’s reportedly had a script for it ready to go since 1996. Now it’s almost here, with the first trailer was released on Twitter just a few hours ago.

I pray but I am lost. Am I just praying to silence? From #MartinScorsese comes #SilenceMovie, watch the official trailer now. pic.twitter.com/3y4DvzeCs1

— Paramount Pictures (@ParamountPics) November 23, 2016

The film, reportedly set to be an Oscar contender, follows two Portuguese priests (played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who journey through Japan on a mission to find their mentor, played by Liam Neeson, who has allegedly gone AWOL and abandoned his faith.

Contrary to its title, the trailer for Silence is loud. After showing Driver and Garfield’s priests given their mission to head to foreign lands, most of the stunning two minutes and thirteen seconds promo features a flurry of evocative images that look more like a Terrence Malick film than a Scorsese joint. All this plays to a propulsive, string and drum score.

Take a look at the trailer in the player above and let us know your thoughts.