Unexpected: Mel Gibson wants to make a movie about a Jewish hero

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

You might remember that before Mel Gibson’s recent infamy over vicious voice-mails (and after he made a whole bunch of awesome movies), he gained a reputation for being anti-Semitic thanks to a drunken rant (and, depending on your perspective, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST).

Perhaps as some sort of penance or counterbalance, Gibson is planning to make a drama about Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee. In the second century B.C.E., Maccabee led the Jewish revolt against the Greek-Syrians (a success now celebrated by the Hanukkah festival).

Gibson is producing (through his Icon company) and potentially directing the Warner Bros. story, described as “a close cousin” to BRAVEHEART’s famous freedom fighter William Wallace.

As you might expect given such sexy subject matter, Gibson is teaming with BASIC INSTINCT and SHOWGIRLS screenwriter Joe Ezsterhas on the project.