Mel Gibson, who reportedly made anti-Semitic remarks during a drunken driving arrest five years ago, is now producing a film about the life of Jewish hero Judah Maccabee.
Gibson’s publicist, Alan Nierob, told The Associated Press Friday that Gibson is working on a deal with Warner Bros. to develop the film through his company, Icon Productions. Nierob said the studio also would like Gibson to direct, but Gibson will decide whether he wants to do that once a script is finished.
The movie is being written by Joe Eszterhas of “Basic Instinct” and “Flashdance” fame.
Gibson, the Oscar-winning director of “Braveheart,” has defended himself against accusations of anti-Semitism ever since his 2006 drunken driving arrest, in which a deputy’s report revealed he made anti-Jewish and sexist slurs while in custody.
Paltrow loves ‘Glee’ character but skips Emmys
Gwyneth Paltrow says she was “totally thrilled” to be nominated for an Emmy for her guest starring role on “Glee,” but she won’t be at the ceremony this weekend where the winner will be announced.
The 38-year-old actress says she just reunited with her children in London and couldn’t return to Los Angeles for Saturday’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards, where TV guest roles are honored.
Paltrow would, however, return to “Glee” to reprise the free-spirited substitute teacher Holly Holliday, if invited. She says she “loves doing that show” and Holly is “probably the most fun character I’ve ever gotten to play.”
Meanwhile, Paltrow has been busy promoting her latest film, “Contagion,” where her role was probably not the most fun character she’s ever gotten to play. She’s Patient No. 1 in a killer pandemic.
Bono, The Edge rock Toronto film fest with U2 doc
U2 singer Bono, guitarist The Edge and their band mates have let their guard down for a revealing documentary about their creative development and a pivotal career shift 20 years ago.
“From the Sky Down” opened the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday night, the first time in its 36-year history that the prestigious cinema showcase began with a documentary. The film centers on the band’s renewed sense of purpose as they created the 1991 album “Achtung Baby.”
The Edge and Bono joined director Davis Guggenheim for two screenings of the film, which premieres on Showtime in October.
“We’re very, very protective of our privacy, and especially, our creative process,” Bono told the crowd before the first screening. “Not because we’re that precious, which we are. But more because of that old adage, if you knew what went into the sausage, you wouldn’t eat the sausage.”
Director Guggenheim’s previous credits include the Academy Award-winning “An Inconvenient Truth,” about Al Gore‘s global-warming campaign, and “It Might Get Loud,” the guitar dream-team matchup of The Edge, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Jack White of the White Stripes.
