Martin Scorsese Joins Paul Schrader’s Film ‘The Basics Of Philosophy’

EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of its launch at the Venice Film Festival, Paul Schrader‘s drama The Basics Of Philosophy has got some key support.

Noora Films has joined the film to represent international sales and Schrader’s old collaborator Martin Scorsese is aboard as an executive producer.

Scorsese and Schrader formed one of the most potent writing-directing partnerships of the ’70s and ’80s with Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Last Temptation Of Christ. This marks the second time Scorsese has joined one of Schrader’s movies as an executive producer after 2021 Venice entry Card Counter.

Jack Huston (House of Gucci), Sofia Boutella (Rebel Moon), Daniel Zovatto (Woman of the Hour), Bill Pullman (Lost Highway), Dana Delany (Tulsa King), Shiloh Fernandez (The Odyssey), and Karl Glusman (Nocturnal Animals) star in The Basics of Philosophy, which charts the story of a repressed philosophy professor (Huston) who has been grappling with lingering guilt over a decision from his past when the victim suddenly returns to his life.

The project, which Schrader wrote and directed, is part of his “man in a room” stories that began with his script for Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and have included the features First Reformed, The Card Counter and Master Gardener.

CAA Media Finance will represent the U.S. rights to the film which is premiering out of competition.

Braxton Pope is producing under his Film Maudit banner alongside Redline Entertainment’s David Wulf. Both previously collaborated with Schrader on The Card Counter, which Focus Features released.

Executive producers also include include Steven Demmler for Talon Entertainment Finance, Santosh Govindaraju for Convergent Media, Franklin Laviola, Nicholas Laviola, Jeff Rice for Jeff Rice Films, Brando Eaton and Richie Walls for Seen Entertainment, Landon Ash, Joel Michaely, Kyle Stroud for Carte Blanche, and Francis Chapman.

“The Basics of Philosophy is exactly the kind of bold, elevated project that represents where we want Noora Films to be. We are excited to work with Paul Schrader again and support a film with genuine international potential,” said Noora Films boss Pia Patatian.

Noora recently repped sales on Schrader’s Cannes competition title Oh, Canada. Patatian has also recently led pre-sales on action-thriller The Savior with Kate Beckinsale and on feature Unmerciful Good Fortune, set to star Rosario Dawson, Antonio Banderas, Susan Sarandon, and Scott Eastwood.