Watch the first trailer for Martin Scorsese's Silence

Paramount Pictures has finally dropped the first trailer of Martin Scorsese's long-awaited film Silence, in association with Fabrica de Cine and Ai Films. It took almost 20 years for the development of this film, with the script said to have got completed back in 1996.

Adapted from a novel by Shusaku Endo, Silence tells the story of two Portuguese Jesuit priests (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who travel to Japan in the 17th century to find their mentor (Liam Neeson) and spread Christianity. The two priests must contend with various forms of torture and persecution during their journey to Japan to track down their mentor. 

This highly-anticipated film is set to premiere at the Vatican in front of an audience of several hundred Jesuits and other invited guests. Scorsese will attend the premiere, New York Times reported.

Paramount has unveiled the first Silence poster as well. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano, Issey Ogata, Ciaran Hinds and Yosuke Kubozuka.

The film opens in theatre on December 23 in New York and Los Angeles and across the United States in January.

Watch the first trailer of the film below.