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LOS ANGELES: Troubled actor Mel Gibson, who has struggled to resurrect his career after an anti-Semitic tirade in 2006, is working on a new film about a Jewish warrior hero, his spokesman said Friday.
The “Braveheart” star's Icon Productions has agreed to a deal with Hollywood major Warner Bros to produce the movie about the life of Judah Maccabee, whose ancient victory is celebrated by Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights.
Gibson has not ruled out acting in the film, and could direct it, according to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, which said the screenplay is to be written by “Basic Instinct” writer Joe Eszterhas.
Maccabee led the Jewish revolt against the Greek-Syrian armies in the second century BC. Gibson, 55, would be a logical choice to play Maccabee's father, the priest Mattathias, the LA Times said.
Gibson's publicist confirmed the accuracy of the report to AFP, but gave no more details.
The actor-director's career has struggled since his 2006 arrest for drunk driving, which became a major scandal because of anti-Semitic remarks he made to a highway patrol officer.
Gibson, who won Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for “Braveheart” in 1996, agreed last month to pay $750,000 to his former girlfriend in a deal that grants the former couple joint custody of their young daughter.
He has a history of making historical and religious-themed movies, including 2004's “The Passion of the Christ” and “Apocalypto” in 2006, as well as more mainstream films such as the “Lethal Weapon” and “Mad Max” series.
This year he won critical acclaim for his role in Jodie Foster's “The Beaver,” about a depressed toy company executive who turns to a beaver hand puppet to help him get his life back on track.
