At the Marrakech Film Festival, actress and filmmaker Jodie Foster suggested that Martin Scorsese‘s Killers of the Flower Moon might have found greater depth as an eight-hour streaming series rather than its theatrical release. Her comments reignited discussion on whether a longer format could have offered richer detail on the infamous Osage murders portrayed in the film, especially focusing on the Osage Nation and their overlooked stories.
Foster Reflects on ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and its Structure
Jodie Foster, who rose to prominence in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, shared her candid thoughts while accepting an award at the Marrakech Film Festival. She reflected on how Killers of the Flower Moon, based on David Grann’s bestseller and distributed by Paramount Pictures, delved into the real-life crimes against the Osage Nation. Foster remarked that adapting the film into a longer streaming series for Apple could have granted more room to explore both the specific events and the broader cultural impact on the Osage people.
“Everybody was sort of excited that the native story was going to be told, and what they found was like, ‘Wow, all the native women are dead,’”
Foster said on Sunday at the Marrakech Film Festival. She went on to add,
“They said, ‘Well, it’s a feature, we didn’t have time,’ but there was time. There was an eight-hour limited series that was not made, that could have been made, where, if you really needed to explore all the male toxic masculinity, you could have done that, but you could have had episode two actually centered on the native story.”
— Jodie Foster, Actress
Foster’s call for a more expansive format highlighted a belief that the Martin Scorsese Killers of the Flower Moon story could have benefited from the depth and nuance that episodic storytelling allows. With references to the film’s focus, Foster’s viewpoint added emotional weight to ongoing debates about Hollywood’s treatment of Indigenous histories and the challenge of giving them adequate screen time.
Challenges and Potential of a Series Adaptation
The notion of transforming Killers of the Flower Moon into a limited streaming series comes with both creative opportunities and significant production hurdles. While a series would have enabled a broader exploration of the community and events, there remains uncertainty about whether the high-caliber talent involved—such as Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, both essential to the project—could have committed to an episodic production within typical streaming budgets. Apple’s deep investment in high-profile content and Scorsese’s own experience with episodic narratives, as demonstrated through Boardwalk Empire on HBO, suggest that an ambitious series format was at least theoretically plausible.
The size and importance of the story, as well as the industry’s rare move to allow Indigenous creatives and groups significant input, marked Killers of the Flower Moon as a standout in Hollywood. Major studios have seldom foregrounded Native American history in large-scale productions, which made Scorsese’s approach notable. The film’s narrative went through shifts during its lengthy development, especially after delays in production. Ultimately, Lily Gladstone’s portrayal of Mollie Burkhart, a central figure navigating personal tragedy as her husband—portrayed by DiCaprio—becomes entangled in the brutal events, received a greater spotlight, culminating in an Oscar nomination that recognized her moving performance.
Debate Over Format and Creative Choices
Foster’s comments resonate within a broader context, as contemporary filmmakers weigh the merits of film versus streaming series for intricate historical stories. While a feature film demands narrative economy, an eight-hour series could have detailed the nuanced dynamics within Osage society, depicted the complexity of the criminal events, and enabled distinct voices—especially those of Osage women—to emerge more fully. Foster herself referenced her recent acclaimed turn in HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, acknowledging how prime television can expand character and world-building over time.
The difficulty, however, remains in reuniting premium cast members and the necessary budget for a limited series. Scorsese’s stature and Apple’s resources could possibly surmount these challenges, but the shift from cinema to series remains fraught for directors accustomed to the constraints and freedoms of theatrical storytelling. As production for Killers of the Flower Moon evolved, the narrative’s focus deepened, especially in partnership with Osage consultants, allowing for a more authentic and impactful depiction of historical trauma and resilience.
Lasting Significance and the Road Ahead
Jodie Foster’s perspective has prompted reflection within the industry and among audiences about what stories deserve the resources and runtime to be told completely. Though the Martin Scorsese Killers of the Flower Moon film achieved considerable acclaim and created space for Osage voices and histories in Hollywood, questions remain about whether longer storytelling formats may better serve similarly layered and significant stories in the future. The willingness of creators, studios, and streaming platforms like Apple to invest in epic, nuanced stories about marginalized communities may shape future decisions—ensuring such critical histories receive the time, respect, and depth they warrant.
Jodie Foster suggests Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ should have been an 8-hour streaming series as she reflects on future of film @Marrakech_Fest pic.twitter.com/DHcHFrMjVP
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) November 30, 2025
