Mel Gibson speaks, talks about plans for his career and his next film

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

For the first time since the spousal abuse allegations and the racist audio tapes that subsequently appeared online, Mel Gibson spoke to a journalist in a lengthy, open and honest interview. I’ll leave a lot of the tabloid fodder for you to read on your own (he doesn’t shy away from any questions), but let’s instead focus on the movie-related questions.

Asked if he feels that his repeated controversies could hurt his acting career, Gibson says, “I don’t care if I don’t act anymore.” When asked if he’s serious about that he adds, “It really is true.”

But it seems we probably won’t get to that point. He’s already got HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION coming up later this year and reveals he’s in talks to star in the next film from writer/director Randall Wallace, with whom Gibson collaborated on for BRAVEHEART.

I’m going to go work for Randy Wallace again. He’s got this script and he’s had it for years. He wrote some book and he’s adapted it to a script. And it’s almost like Alexander Dumas — like that swashbuckler kind of stuff….It’s total bodice-ripping swashbuckling stuff, but it’s funny. It’s funny and yet it’s got really good serious undertones too. Randy writes a decent script. And I responded to it right away. I thought this is hilarious. I’ve got to do this. And I’m not the main guy in the film — which is great.

Gibson is most likely talking about “Love and Honor,” the 2007 novel written by Wallace. The film takes place during the Revolutionary War and follows a young colonial soldier sent by Benjamin Franklin to Russia in the hopes of convincing Catherine the Great to deny the British request for Russian troops. He’s aided on his journey by a disgraced Russian nobleman, which is likely the role Gibson would play.

Before deciding whether or not you care about THE BEAVER or any of Gibson’s future projects, read the interview with the actor/director at Deadline and see if you’re ready to forgive the man (or at least allow yourself to enjoy his career).