The Controversial Role in ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ Got Willem Dafoe Removed From a Movie

In a recent visit to ‘The Louis Theroux Podcast’, Willem Dafoe discussed the consequences of his performance in ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’. While promoting ‘Nosferatu’, Dafoe talked about how his portrayal of Jesus Christ in Martin Scorsese’s 1988 religious epic caused him to be dismissed from an undisclosed project, among other professional implications.
Dafoe was a relatively unknown actor before being cast in ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’. But when the movie, which was based on Nikos Kazantzakis’ book, was released, it caused a lot of controversy. Protests, threats of death, and bans were issued in places including Greece, Mexico, and Chile. The Saint-Michel theatre in Paris was set on fire by a Catholic extremist group during a movie screening in 1988, marking the height of the issue. The film’s portrayal of Christ, which examined both his humanity and divinity, was criticized by religious organizations.
Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Dafoe disclosed that the criticism had an impact on his career, as one company retracted his participation in a project due to his connection to the movie. He said that a number of studios at the time cut ties with him, but he would not name the particular project. In 2018, he recalled a studio boss declaring, “You are in this over my dead body.” Despite this, Dafoe stressed that Scorsese was largely to blame because the director, a devoted Catholic, foresaw the conflict. Scorsese added a disclaimer stating that the movie was a fictional inquiry rather than a gospel rendition in order to allay any potential criticism.
Roger Ebert praised ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ careful treatment of Christ’s message, despite the protests having an adverse effect on the film’s box office results. The film is regarded as a thought-provoking analysis of the human condition decades later. Dafoe put it this way: the indignation over a fictionalized retelling of Jesus’ life felt out of proportion in a society full of brutal movies.
–Farheen Ali