Mel Gibson's 'Edge of Darkness' Goes to WB

One of the less heralded movies in production that should have a bigger spotlight shone on it is The Edge of Darkness, a remake of a BBC miniseries directed Martin Campbell (Casino Royale). Oddly enough, Campbell also directed the miniseries, although there are noticeable differences this time around. For starters, it's set in Boston, and it stars Mel Gibson, who is probably hoping for a Tom Cruise-like bounce after the events of the past five years painted his as a drunken anti-semite and an archly conservative Catholic. Lost in those five years is the really good work he did behind the camera on both The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, especially the latter film. It is probably easier to sell Gibson now than it was in 2006 and it's probably easier to sell something he's just acting in, since as a movie star, very few guys have ever enjoyed the run Gibson had for about 20 years. The Edge of Darkness puts him back in familiar territory, playing a cop investigating the murder of his daughter, which leads to unraveling a gravely important national security secret. Maybe because he's so reliable in roles like this, Warner Bros. has stepped up to the plate, acquiring Darkness for North American distribution. When? Probably later this year, although there's no official word yet. But Variety says the film, adapted by the e'er capable Will.I.Am Monahan, wrapped principal photography in November. So after everything that's gone on, would you pay to see another Mel Gibson movie? Perhaps that question would gain a measure of perspective after Michael Vick starts playing football again, but I've never been one of those people who would refuse to see a movie because of a star's off-camera troubles.

Comments

[Lola]

I would definitely pay to see another Mel Gibson film with Mel as actor, director or producer. I really don't care what the man said or did while he was drunk in 2006 - the majority of the population has absolutely no room to talk. The only difference between Mel and the rest of us is fame so his mistakes are splattered all over the world and our mistakes are not - how convenient for the Mel judgers in the world. Mel admitted he was wrong, apologized and did something about his lifestyle. I have to hand it to him - I'm not so sure that if my mistakes were splattered all over the world that I would have what it takes to make a comeback - that takes an incredible amount of courage - I'm proud of him. I am so excited he is back in front of the camera. I hope we see more of Mel over the years. It will be interesting to see what roles he takes and what movies he directs/produces. He is a very interesting man with incredible talent. Edge of Darkness can not come out soon enough.

[fairgo guy]

I agree, Mel has been his own man for many years now, making one superb film after another. Braveheart and all the awards it garnered, Apocalypto which was so authentic and unrelenting and Passion. Regardless of one's religious views, Jewish, Christian, it was an amazing and horrorfying film experience which many people marvelled at...Aramaic for the whole film - pretty amazing. And he didnt submit to revisionist modern pressures coming thick and fast out of Jewish Hollywood. He took its plot straight from the pages of the New Testament. Now Im an atheist so I dont care for the politics of race or religion, but it needs to be said it was a extroadinary production which took big balls and some serious conviction... and he did it his way and made 400 million buckaroo's out of it. Im sure more than a few Jewish producers regretted not financing the picture after that fact! And all the negative hooplah was over nothing afterall it was a movie for Christians and those interested in 'film experience'. It was even given a cool mention in Darren Oronofsky's brilliant 'the Wrestler'. The truth is Hollywood has been poorer for Mel's notable absence from that town... he is a true superstar as well as a flawed human being like everyone of us walking this earth... time to look forward and heal and forgive. The man has apologized for being drunk and saying a stupid thing. We've all said stupid things drunk and sober, but its the apology that's a sign of great character. Besides I am so sick of the lame superstar clones of Hollywood like Brad Pitt who just dont deliver the goods. Brad's 'ladyboy Troy' effort /Braveheart-Gladiator try/attempt was a joke and an embarrassment and pretty much ended the epic archaic military genre at that point. Please!!! lets get back to the real men hey!!! My point is everyone deserves a second chance and only cowards kick a guy when he's down, aka Brad at the Guy Awards and his cheap shot/ Adam Sandlers B production the 'Zohan' and all the cheap shots therein and on the net with the constant re-telling of Mel's "infamous incident" by the keyboards of bought and sold so-called Hollywood-aligned journalists who should think for themselves rather than perpetually licking the boots of their Masters...if I see the words 'antisemetic tirade' attached to Mel's name on the net another time I swear I'll never spend my hard-earned cash on yet another holocaust movie Hollywood has pushed on us... If Edge of Darkness doesnt get promoted by Warners out of subliminal negative bias to Mel, then Mel should finance all of his own movies, make what he wants, coz the people will see quality and when Mel makes a movie its absolute quality and thats a fact. As a director he stands along-side Spielberg, Scorsese, Michael mann and Ridley Scott as probably a hand-full of memorable modern greats, though he is the least acknowledged because of the whole unfortunate Jewish thing... This is my advice to Mel, if Hollywood aint gonna get behind your work, man, then you should first up make, with your own money another jesus movie, the early life, non-violent, Christians would put 500 million in your coffers for this prequel, then you could make whatever you wanted for the rest of your life, buy publicity like the big studios do and never have to kiss ass for your continuance.... But hey Im a rebel and a free-thinker, I wouldnt last an hour in Hollywood!

[pt hnry]

Gibson as an actor should be light years beyond routine comfort-zone projects like this.

---Strictly second tier HBO ----and STALE at that.

[fairgo guy hater]

fairgo guy, go to hell.

[William Nadler]

Holocaust deniers dont deserve audiance support. Likewise, blaming today's Jews instead of ancient Romans for killing G-d is obcene. There are other movies to view without thoughts to that baggage.