It’s been seven years since Mel Gibson last helmed a feature film, but Deadline reports that he’ll be returning to the director’s chair with Flight Risk, a thriller starring Mark Wahlberg.
Flight Risk is being developed for Lionsgate, who released Mel Gibson’s last movie, Hacksaw Ridge. Plot details for Gibson’s new project are being kept under wraps, but it’s said that Mark Wahlberg will be playing a pilot who must transport a dangerous criminal for trial. Wahlberg and Gibson have worked together several times before, including on Daddy’s Home 2 and Father Stu.
“We love the undeniable electric pairing of Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg,” said Lionsgate movie chairman Joe Drake. “These world-class talents combining for this dynamic, character-driven film will make Flight Risk one of the most suspense-filled, must-see events of the year.“
Mel Gibson has only directed five movies throughout his long career. He made his directorial debut with The Man Without a Face, before receiving critical acclaim (and the Academy Award for Best Director) with Braveheart. He also directed The Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge. In addition to Flight Risk, Gibson has a few other projects that he may direct, including Lethal Weapon 5 and the long-rumoured Passion of the Christ sequel.
Mark Wahlberg recently finished shooting The Union with Halle Berry. The action thriller follows a construction worker who is roped into the espionage world by his former high school girlfriend. It will be released on Netflix but doesn’t have an official release date yet. As for Mel Gibson, he will next be seen in the upcoming John Wick prequel series, The Continental. He plays Cormac, the current manager of the hotel. “The showrunner Kirk Ward and I talked in detail about it. Kirk is a massive action movie fan, and his references are 48 Hours, Lethal Weapon, The Warriors, stuff like that,” said director Albert Hughes. “With Mel, Kirk and I decided he should be a little shabby on the edges. His organization skills aren’t as tight as Winston’s are later on. It feels a little cheap. Then I started coming up with my own motivations for the character, that was a cross between Joel Silver and Donald Trump.“