The Last Temptation of Christ was made into a very controversial motion picture in 1988. Director Martin Scorsese overdoes the sexual aspect of the novel, but manages to present a strong portrayal of Christ's struggle to accept or reject His own divinity. Church groups throughout Europe and the United States protested against the motion picture even while it was still in production, tried to prevent the motion picture's release before even seeing it, and picketed theaters where it was shown. The presentation of Christ as a man with self-doubts and sexual desires was and is seen as heretical and downright blasphemous by many people. It stars Willem Dafoe as Christ, with Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Harry Dean Stanton, David Bowie, Verna Bloom, and Andre Gregory in supporting roles. The screenplay is by Paul Schrader.