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With ‘The Saints,’ Martin Scorsese puts his faith in Fox Nation

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With 'The Saints,' Martin Scorsese puts his faith in Fox Nation

As a lifelong cinephile who has witnessed the metamorphosis of the film industry, I find it truly heartening to see Martin Scorsese‘s long-held dream finally come to fruition after nearly half a century. Growing up in Lower Manhattan, I too was captivated by the iconography of the Catholic Church and yearned to understand the stories behind these saintly figures.

Following his string of critically-acclaimed movies culminating in his first Academy Award for “Raging Bull” in 1980, Martin Scorsese decided to spend some time exploring a subject that had long captivated him since his early years.

During a recent panel discussion in New York, Scorsese mused, “What if I explored saint stories?” He was inspired by Italian filmmakers who were delving into scholarly topics in documentary style for TV, and he decided to join them.

“I tried,” he said. “And I wound up getting sucked into making movies again.”

But deferred dreams never die in the streaming era, where emerging platforms are hungry for content that can put them on the map. Forty-four years after first considering the concept, “Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints” makes its debut Sunday on Fox Nation, the streamer owned and operated by Fox News Media, the conservative-leaning Fox News Channel’s parent organization.

Martin Scorsese serves as both the executive producer and the on-screen narrator for this series, which was initially conceived by Matti Leshem and penned by Kent Jones.

Each week, a fresh installment premieres, starting with the first four episodes offering insightful perspectives on Joan of Arc, John the Baptist, Sebastian, and Maximilian Kolbe. A subsequent set is planned for release around Easter in April 2025, featuring portrayals of Francis of Assisi, Thomas Becket, Mary Magdalene, and Moses the Black.

Since his childhood in Lower Manhattan during the 1940s and 50s, Scorsese has found himself drawn to saints. During this time, he went to elementary school at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Mott Street, immersed in the symbolism of the Catholic Church’s imagery.

“These statues almost became like people,” Scorsese said. “And I wanted to know their stories.”

The Saints” portrays its characters as authentic human beings, complete with their imperfections, in a way reminiscent of a Martin Scorsese production, offering viewers an engaging cinematic experience. These two previewed episodes were filmed in Serbia and on a set designed by Scorsese himself in New York.

With 'The Saints,' Martin Scorsese puts his faith in Fox Nation

Each episode contains a panel discussion with Scorsese and theological scholars and experts. They indulge in the kind of low-key thoughtful discussion rarely seen on TV or streaming.

The prestigious series lacks a commercial feel, possibly explaining why it wasn’t picked up by streaming platforms like Apple TV or Netflix, who have supported Martin Scorsese’s previous works (“Killers of the Flower Moon” and “The Irishman”). After being marketed for two years, it was finally taken up by Fox Nation.

The Saints” is perceived as a valuable addition to Fox Nation, a subscription-based service with approximately 2 million users who pay $5.99 monthly. In an attempt to align with the moral beliefs of many Fox News viewers, the platform has been expanding its religious programming offerings.

According to Jason Klarman, Fox News Media’s top executive in charge of digital and marketing, our audience is deeply engaged and we know them inside out. They trust us enough to let us innovate in ways that most news outlets typically wouldn’t.

I’ve recently joined the ranks of influential figures contributing to Fox Nation, a streaming platform that made its debut in 2018. Initially, it was under the radar, but gained attention from Hollywood insiders after Kevin Costner agreed to produce a documentary series for 2022, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park.

Klarman mentioned that we received numerous intriguing calls about personal endeavors or hobbies from various individuals,” or simply, “Klarman stated that we’ve been receiving many calls about unique passion projects from different people.

Previously this year, Matthew McConaughey narrated “Deep in the Heart,” a wildlife documentary set in his home state of Texas. Other celebrities like Kelsey Grammer, Dan Ackroyd, Rob Lowe, and Dennis Quaid have also participated in such programs. (Fox Nation has given a stage to stars including Roseanne Barr, some of whom have faced backlash in Hollywood due to their backing of President-elect Trump).

Although Fox News commentators frequently criticize liberal figures from the entertainment industry, this standpoint hasn’t hindered their ability to collaborate with businesses on their streaming platform.

“We’re not chasing anybody and going, ‘Oh, please do business with us.’” said Klarman.

Initially, Fox Nation debuted with shows hosting several outspoken conservative commentators who were frequent faces on Fox News. One program was titled “Un-PC.” Notably, a dramatized trial simulation of Hunter Biden, which was withdrawn earlier this year following a legal action filed by the President’s son, was also provided as content.

However, executives at Fox News determined that their viewers were receiving sufficient amounts of political content not just from their channel but also from other sources.

Klarman remarked, “There was a limit to our reach initially, but we expanded past the dedicated Fox News audience and reached those who were somewhat connected.

Klarman observed that Fox Nation’s religious, patriotic, historical, and natural-themed programs were highly successful. Specifically, faith-oriented shows saw exceptional success during the holiday seasons of Christmas and Easter.

As per Klarman, “The Saints” stands as Fox Nation’s priciest production to date, with the exact cost kept under wraps. The episodes are structured in a conventional TV format and are intended for sale to international broadcasters, a move that will assist in funding a potentially expensive series, given the limitations of smaller streaming services.

Fox Corporation, being the parent company of Fox News, does not separate its financial reports for Fox Nation, their sole subscription-based video on-demand platform.

Executives are staying composed as they steer through the transition of consumers moving away from pay-TV subscriptions, a significant source of their channel’s income. They have hinted to financial analysts on Wall Street that Fox Nation could potentially evolve into a direct-to-consumer streaming platform, delivering Fox News content directly to viewers in the future.

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2024-11-16 14:31

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