Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese unveiled his highly anticipated docudrama series, Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints, in an exclusive screening Thursday night in New York City. Hosted by FOX Nation at the Whitby Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, the event featured a panel discussion and a glimpse into the filmmaker’s deeply personal exploration of faith, humanity, and the extraordinary lives of saints.

The series, which premiered on November 17 on FOX Nation, is Scorsese’s first foray into a serialized project of this nature. It is split into two parts, with the first four episodes being released during the holiday season and the remainder debuting in April and May 2025. The timing coincides with Holy Week, a fitting backdrop for a series delving into stories of unwavering faith and sacrifice.

For Scorsese, The Saints is more than just a passion project—it’s a lifelong dream. The 81-year-old director shared how growing up near St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City inspired a fascination with saints.

“I grew up practically living in the cathedral, contemplating those statues of saints, wondering about their stories,” Scorsese recounted during the panel discussion. “What is a saint? Are they superhuman? The answer, I realized, is no. They’re human.”

This humanization of saints serves as the series’ cornerstone. Each episode explores a singular figure—Joan of Arc, Francis of Assisi, Maximilian Kolbe, and others—unpacking their extraordinary courage, sacrifices, and the ways their faith shaped history.

Scorsese lamented that stories of saints are no longer as culturally prominent as they once were, particularly for younger generations.

“Maybe the fact that there are saints, were saints and still are saints is something that’s lost on our newest generation,” he said. “We thought this was a good attempt to try and understand what that is and what faith is, really.”

The docudrama spans over 2,000 years and traverses continents, providing a sweeping, cinematic journey through history. At the screening, attendees previewed episodes on Joan of Arc and Maximilian Kolbe, showcasing the courage and faith that defined their lives.

The road to The Saints has been long. Scorsese first conceived the idea over four decades ago but found himself “sucked into making movies again.” Despite the delay, the project has finally come to fruition, thanks to collaborators like Mary Karr, Father James Martin, and producer Matti Leshem, who first approached Scorsese with the idea seven years ago.

The series creative team, which includes writer Kent Jones and director Elizabeth Chomko, worked closely with Scorsese to bring his vision to life. The filmmaker’s reverence for faith and storytelling—evident in earlier works like Silence—shines through in The Saints.

The series not only honors historical saints but also invites viewers to consider the everyday heroes among us. During the panel, Scorsese reflected on the modern “saints” who quietly impact the world, from selfless doctors to community leaders.

“The saints we chose for this series are the ones we know about, whose lives changed so many others,” he explained.

Scorsese’s work often grapples with spiritual themes, making The Saints a natural extension of his legacy. With FOX Nation as the platform, the series is poised to reach a wide audience, inviting viewers to reflect on the profound power of faith and sacrifice.

As Scorsese concluded with a smile, “I’ve always wanted to do this—better late than never.”