- Joined
- Oct 24, 2004
- Messages
- 160,881
- Reaction score
- 10,448
- Points
- 203
http://www.empireonline.co.uk/site/news/newsstory.asp?news_id=16974
Gibson Faces Apocalypto Now
Mel directs another historical epic
22 July 2005
Last year, he made one of the world's biggest ever indie films. Now, Mel Gibson is returning to ancient history to write and direct Apocalypto, which readers may be relieved / disappointed to know is "not religious in theme" and which is, we're promised, more of an action movie.
The story is set in "an ancient civilisation" some 3,000-odd years ago. While the title might suggest that this is the mother of all disaster movies, it is in fact a Greek word meaning "an unveiling" or a "new beginning", rather than, say, the end of all creation (cause, you know, we're still here). Like The Passion of the Christ and Braveheart, we can expect lots of violence and action despite or because of the period setting.
What's not clear is whether this is the same ancient action movie that Gibson was planning last year. That was based on the Jewish story of the Maccabees, a group that rose up in rebellion against a corrupt King, and reconsecrated the defiled Temple in Jerusalem. However, the fact that their story, while not Biblical, is the basis for the Jewish feast of Hanukah, and that this film is not religious in theme, means that he may have written a different story in the intervening months.
Gibson isn't going to star in the film, and may not use a star at all in the cast. Either way, he shouldn't have any problems after The Passion of the Christ made $600 million worldwide on a budget of $25 million, Mel has a few dollars to spare here and there. He's currently scouting for locations and has already begun casting the film. His company, Icon, will be distributing the film worldwide, while Disney won a bidding war to distribute the film in the US.
Gibson Faces Apocalypto Now
Mel directs another historical epic
22 July 2005
The story is set in "an ancient civilisation" some 3,000-odd years ago. While the title might suggest that this is the mother of all disaster movies, it is in fact a Greek word meaning "an unveiling" or a "new beginning", rather than, say, the end of all creation (cause, you know, we're still here). Like The Passion of the Christ and Braveheart, we can expect lots of violence and action despite or because of the period setting.
What's not clear is whether this is the same ancient action movie that Gibson was planning last year. That was based on the Jewish story of the Maccabees, a group that rose up in rebellion against a corrupt King, and reconsecrated the defiled Temple in Jerusalem. However, the fact that their story, while not Biblical, is the basis for the Jewish feast of Hanukah, and that this film is not religious in theme, means that he may have written a different story in the intervening months.
Gibson isn't going to star in the film, and may not use a star at all in the cast. Either way, he shouldn't have any problems after The Passion of the Christ made $600 million worldwide on a budget of $25 million, Mel has a few dollars to spare here and there. He's currently scouting for locations and has already begun casting the film. His company, Icon, will be distributing the film worldwide, while Disney won a bidding war to distribute the film in the US.
... thats what makes Mel.. MEL
