Mel Gibson's career has been condensed to starring as bad guys in action films like Machete Kills and The Expendables 3 following his controversial phone calls, but Gibson could be stepping in the director's chair on a promising new feature biopic.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals Gibson is now in talks to direct Hacksaw Ridge, a World War II drama about the true story of Private First Class Desmond T. Doss, a war hero who won the Congressional Medal of Honor even though he refused to bear arms due to his religious beliefs. Set to star as Doss is Spider-Man himself, Andrew Garfield. While the deal with Garfield is not yet finalized, the goal is to start shooting the film next year.
The movie has reportedly been in the works for 13 years. On an ironic note, the film, previously titled The CO, was originally set to be directed by Randall Wallace at that time, who called the shots for Gibson in We Were Soliders. Should this deal come through, this will be Gibson's first movie as a director since 2006's Apocalypto.
David Permut and Bill Mechanic, who have been attached to the film from the beginning, are producing, alongside Cross Creek Pictures financing and their company's Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson also producing. According to Deadline, deals for both Gibson and Garfield are moving delicately and slowly.
As an actor, in addition to starring in this year's aforementioned The Expendables 3, Gibson recently finished starring in the thriller Blood Father, set to be released sometime next year. Garfield, meanwhile, was recently seen on a wide scale in this summer's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and, on the festival circuit, 99 Homes.
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