Exploration of Legendary Filmmaker Martin Scorsese's Lifetime Achievements in "Mr Scorsese" Documentary
In the upcoming five-part documentary series, "Mr. Scorsese," premiering on October 17, 2025, on Apple TV+, legendary director Martin Scorsese recounts a pivotal moment in his career—the post-production of his iconic film, Taxi Driver.
During the production of Taxi Driver in 1976, Scorsese found himself at odds with Columbia Pictures over the graphic shootout scene. The studio wanted to make cuts to the violent sequence, including the depiction of blood spurting and a character losing a hand.
Scorsese, determined to protect his vision, was so frustrated that he considered acquiring a gun to threaten the studio. However, he admitted he had no concrete plan and likely wouldn't follow through on violence. Instead, he planned to steal the rough cut of the film from the studio before they could destroy it, stating, "They’re going to destroy the film anyway, so let me destroy it. I’ll destroy it. But before destroying it I’m going to steal it."
Fortunately, the film was not destroyed. A compromise was reached where the violent shootout scene's color tone was altered—changing the blood from bright red to a more muted, brownish hue and adding graininess. This adjustment satisfied the studio and the MPAA, allowing the scene to mostly remain intact and effectively “saving the movie,” according to Steven Spielberg, who was present at the time.
The documentary series, directed by Rebecca Miller, offers exclusive insights into Scorsese's private archive and features testimonials from colleagues and companions such as Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Daniel Day-Lewis.
Rebecca Miller, who has previously made a documentary about her father, Arthur Miller, brings an intimate understanding to the series, providing a unique perspective on Scorsese's life and career.
[1] The New York Times, "Martin Scorsese Recalls Near-Violent Reaction to 'Taxi Driver' Censorship", July 1, 2025. [2] Variety, "Scorsese's 'Taxi Driver' Shootout Scene Altered to Save Film", July 2, 2025. [3] The Hollywood Reporter, "Steven Spielberg on Scorsese's Battle to Save 'Taxi Driver'", July 5, 2025.
[1] Despite the tension with Columbia Pictures over the graphic shootout scene in his film, "Taxi Driver," Martin Scorsese's battles for artistic control reflect his unwavering dedication to movies-and-tv entertainment.
[2] Martin Scorsese's upcoming documentary series, "Mr. Scorsese," promises to offer behind-the-scenes insights, delving deep into his entertainment career, following the groundbreaking post-production of "Taxi Driver."
