Martin Scorsese is aiming to make Japan-set passion project "Silence" his next film, the helmer declared Sunday at the fifth Marrakech Film Festival in Morocco reports Variety.

Adaptation of a Japanese novel by Shusaku Endo is the martyrdom-themed tale of two 17th century Portuguese missionaries who return to Japan to minister to Christians, who've been outlawed. Scorsese has been trying to do the project on and off for around ten years.

Project is being moved by Initial Entertainment Group, the same company who are producing Scorsese's current project "The Departed". Both films are expected to be released by Warner Bros.

Thanks to 'James'