When Scorsese Nearly Directed Flashdance 2 for Free

It’s difficult to picture a time when a handful of directors could so thoroughly reshape the landscape of cinema, yet that’s precisely what happened with the so-called ‘Movie Brats’. Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma, and George Lucas each managed to carve out a unique space in the industry, blending personal ambition with the resources of major studios. Their projects were often deeply personal, yet they enjoyed the sort of creative freedom and financial support that’s now almost unheard of.

Today, the path to the top is far less forgiving. Aspiring filmmakers might begin with modest independent productions, hoping to eventually land a blockbuster, as Gareth Edwards, Colin Trevorrow, and Taika Waititi have done. Others are thrust straight into the limelight, sometimes with mixed results—Carl Rinsch’s experience comes to mind. Ryan Coogler appears to be an exception, but even his early work included a Rocky sequel and two comic book adaptations before he was trusted with something more original.

Scorsese’s Unusual Offer

Scorsese has always been known for pursuing his own vision, rarely taking on projects simply for the paycheque. The closest he’s come to working as a director-for-hire were with The Color of Money and Cape Fear, both of which still bear his unmistakable stamp. Yet, when it came to getting The Last Temptation of Christ off the ground, he found himself in a rather desperate position. In his own words:

“We cut the shooting days down to 55 days, 55 days, all shot in Israel very quickly, and the budget down to $7.8 million, then to $6 million, including the $4 million we already spent. No salary for me. And I told [Jeffrey] Katzenberg I would do Flashdance 2, if he wanted.”

Adrian Lyne’s original dance romance was a box office sensation, raking in over $200 million and finishing just behind Star Wars: Return of the Jedi for the year. While it may not be regarded as a classic in the traditional sense, its soundtrack became a cultural phenomenon, earning an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and three Grammys.

Alternate Realities and What Might Have Been

There’s a parallel universe where Flashdance’s legacy is forever linked with two of the most distinctive filmmakers of the era. David Cronenberg had already declined the chance to direct, and Scorsese, in a moment of pragmatism, offered to take on the sequel if it meant his own project would be realised. It’s rather remarkable, considering how quickly sequels are usually approved when a film is a hit, that Flashdance never received a follow-up.

One can only imagine what a Scorsese-directed Flashdance sequel might have looked like—undoubtedly fascinating, if not entirely for the right reasons. In the end, he managed to bring his passion project to fruition, but not before demonstrating just how far he was prepared to go to see it happen.