Protest at Mel Gibson deal for Jewish icon film

A deal for troubled actor Mel Gibson’s company to produce a film about a Jewish warrior triggered a protest Friday that his alleged anti-Semitism made him unfit to make the movie. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors alleged anti-Semitism, called on major Hollywood studio Warner Bros to cancel the deal with the ‘Braveheart’ star, whose career collapsed after an anti-Semitic tirade in 2006.
The reaction came after Gibson’s Icon Productions agreed a deal with Warner to produce the movie about the life of Judah Maccabee, whose ancient victory is celebrated by Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights. Gibson has not ruled out acting in the film, and could direct it, according to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, which said the screenplay is to be written by ‘Basic Instinct’ writer Joe Eszterhas. Maccabee led the Jewish revolt against the Greek-Syrian armies in the second century BC. Gibson, 55, would be a logical choice to play Maccabee’s father, the priest Mattathias, the LA Times said.
A publicist for Gibson – who has struggled with alcohol addiction and just cut a deal to end a messy break-up – confirmed the accuracy of the report to AFP, although giving no more details. But reacting to the report, the New York-based ADL’s national director Abraham H Foxman urged Warner to reconsider the deal. “We would have hoped that Warner Bros could have found someone better than Mel Gibson to direct or perhaps even star in a film on the life of the Jewish historical icon Judah Maccabee,” he said in a statement.
“As a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty, Judah Maccabee deserves better. It would be a travesty to have the story… told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people’s religious views.”