When you hear the words "prequel" and "sequel," the last name you might imagine is fiercely original filmmaker Martin Scorsese. But now, following his Golden Globe victory and unprecedented box-office success, the legendary director is reportedly considering bringing back "The Departed." "We really didn't know what to expect [when we made it]," star Mark Wahlberg said. "I'm fascinated with that [gangster] world, but I'm from that world. I didn't really think that the rest of the world would respond like it did." Revealing Scorsese's purported plans, Wahlberg added: "We may do another one, because it's based on a Hong Kong film ['Infernal Affairs'], and there is a trilogy. So we may do a sequel with a new cast, and a prequel and bring back the rest of the guys." Either movie would mark the first time Scorsese revisited one of his own films, and Wahlberg said the director is already lining up assistance from some old friends. "They're talking to Robert De Niro and a couple of other people," he said. "Anybody who is anybody wants to work with Marty."

"Departed" on way to afterlife

By Borys Kit
52 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - With a massive bloodletting at the climax of "The Departed" that left almost no one standing, you'd think it would be hard to make a sequel. A domestic take of $125.2 million is making Warner Bros. Pictures and director Martin Scorsese think otherwise.

Talks are under way to put together a sequel to the crime thriller, which has garnered five Academy Award nominations and is Scorsese's biggest boxoffice hit in a career that spans more than four decades.

Sources say that "Departed" writer William Monahan is working on a take that would involve Dignam, the temperamental foul-mouthed cop played by Mark Wahlberg, who received an Oscar nomination for the role, and introduce a new character to be played by Robert De Niro. Sources caution that Scorsese would need to approve any take before development could move forward.

A prequel is not being ruled out, either. "Departed" is an adaptation of the Hong Kong pic "Infernal Affairs," to which Warners acquired the rights in 2003. The studio also had option rights to the movie's two sequels. It is unclear if this new movie would fall under that agreement, because Monahan's script could end up being an original story rather than an adaptation.

The acclaimed Chinese movies are regarded as "The Godfather" of Asian cinema, with the 2003 sequel being a prequel, much like "The Godfather 2." The third movie combined elements of the first two movies.

Warners declined comment.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter