For many people, Mel Gibson’s 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ is the kind of movie you can only watch once, so visceral is the violence and despair on display throughout the 127-minute runtime. Which is perhaps why fans of the movie have been clamoring (and possibly praying) for so long for Gibson’s long-gestating sequel plans (first unveiled in 2016) to come to fruition. Now we finally have some huge updates for the pair of follow-ups, The Resurrection of the Christ Parts One & Two, both visual and otherwise.

The First Look At Jaakko Ohtonen's Jesus

Perhaps not the most action-packed image, this first look at The Resurrection of the Christ Part One pretty much matches up with what one might automatically think of if someone says "Picture Jesus outside." He isn't showing any aftermath of anything that went on during The Passion, so at least there's that.

Although Gibson and producer Bruce Davey originally intended to keep The Passion's cast intact for the sequels, and aimed to utilize digital de-aging technology to pull off the feat of making it seem like only three days had passed since the first film's events. That plan was jettisoned in October 2025, with the sequels bringing in an all new cast to avoid the high costs of de-aging so many characters.

As such, that's why it's Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen taking over the titular Christ role, with Mariela Garriga now portraying Mary Magdalene. (Other cast members include Kasia Smutniak, Rupert Everett, Pier Luigi, Lorenzo James Henrie, Riccardo Scamarcio and many more.)

The Bad News: Release Dates Are Being Pushed For Both Parts Of The Resurrection

Part One originally had a release date of March 26, 2027, but will now be coming out on May 6, 2027. Not a huge bump for this one. However...

Part Two was originally locked in for that May 6, 2027 date. With the first now in its place, the second sequel has been pushed back more than a full year, to May 25, 2028.

There's no word on why the dates were rearranged, but one can assume that a lengthy post-production process is a major factor. The fact that the lengthy production ended ahead of schedule makes the original release plan even more questionable, but hopefully this new set-up makes for the best viewing experience.

The Good News: Filming Has Wrapped, And Mel Gibson Has Nothing But Praise To Share

Not that I'd expect the director to come out of the cave griping about this being a lousy experience, but given the two movies filmed across a variety of Italian cities for over four months, plenty of things could have gone sour. That doesn't seem to be the case at all, however, as Mel Gibson had this to say (via Variety):

More positivity came from Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, who said:

The Passion is based on one of the most infamous historical events of all time, perhaps surprisingly made over $600 million worldwide, and for years was the highest-grossing R-rated movie, at least until Deadpool and Wolverine came around and sunk its metatextual claws into the Biblical epic’s box office. Its legitimacy has often been questions, and such skepticism will no doubt be raised for The Resurrection, given its titular act, though I suppose Gibson’s past comments about it being a trippy experience take the onus away from rooting it in pure realism, as it were.

Will Mel Gibson be able to circle back around to the written-but-mysteriously unproduced Lethal Weapon 5 script once The Resurrection films are completely in the can? Or will we all be too old for that sh-t by that point? On that note, maybe a crossover movie with Methuselah and Noah joining Riggs and Murtaugh…

With plenty of top-notch 2026 movie releases to get through before it arrives, The Resurrection of the Christ Part One will now hit theaters on May 6, 2027.

Shia LaBeouf has been making headlines again as of late due to another run-in with the law. The 39-year-old actor was arrested in New Orleans on February 17 following a mult-day bar crawl for Mardi Gras. LaBeouf was subsequently charged with two counts of simple battery and has since been released from police custody. The Transformers alum’s actions still remain a topic of conversation and, now, a source is claiming that another actor wants to step in to provide LaBeouf with some assistance – Mel Gibson.

If a new report is to be believed, those with close ties to LaBeouf – who’s been arrested three times between now and 2014 – to intervene after the situation in New Orleans. An insider for inTouch Weekly alleges that 70-year-old Mel Gibson is such a person who could help out LaBeouf right now. Allegedly, there’s also a specific reason as to why the Braveheart alum would be the right person to try to reach LaBeouf:

Ahead of his latest arrest, which was reportedly a result of a scuffle that took place in New Orleans' French Quarter, the actor had apparently been spotted making stops at a number of watering holes in the city. Among those stops were Brothers III Lounge, Ms. Mae’s, 45 Tchoup and Dos Jefes and, at that time, the Peanut Butter Falcon star (who’s been open about sobriety struggles) was also reportedly shirtless at the time. Accounts about LaBeouf’s behavior during that crawl have varied, with one doorman describing him as appearing “somewhat belligerent,” while the proprietor of a different bar said he appeared “totally chill.”

In the aftermath of his arrest and brief hospitalization for injuries sustained in the fight, LaBeouf released a brief statement, posting “free me” on X. Gibson now reportedly wants to have a serious talk with LaBeouf, and the insider shared further claims about why the Australian actor believes he can get through to his younger peer:

Mel Gibson has seen several controversies of his own over the course of his career. In the early ‘90s, he drew backlash after making comments during an interview that were dubbed homophobic. Another situation came in 2006 when Gibson was arrested for DUI and, after he was stopped by authorities, the actor reportedly went on an antisemitic rant. In more recent years, Gibson has seemingly integrated himself back into the entertainment industry and is currently working on his long-gestating Passion of the Christ sequel.

Whether the would-be James Bond actor could actually get the chance to speak with Shia LaBeouf, though, remains to be seen. The inTouch’s insider also discussed the challenges of making that happen:

As of last weekend, LaBeouf was still in New Orleans and was spotted spending time with a mystery woman amid reports that he and partner Mia Goth separated in 2025. Whether LaBeouf will speak out on his arrest any further remains to be seen.

It has been 21 years since Mel Gibson directed The Passion of the Christ, one of the most successful R-rated movies of all time. And while a lot of time has passed since the actor-turned-director first announced he was going to make a sequel to the massive biblical epic nearly a decade ago, The Resurrection of the Christ is finally happening.

In the coming years, Gibson and returning cast members from one of the most emotional yet controversial movies of all time will return to the ancient world to explore everything that happened to Jesus Christ after he was crucified on the cross. If you want to know more about it, stick around because we’re about to break down everything we know about The Resurrection of the Christ, including its release date, its story, and what else to expect…

What Is The Resurrection Of The Christ Release Date?

So, what is The Resurrection of the Christ’s release date? In August 2025, THR reported that Mel Gibson’s follow-up to his record-breaking independent film will be coming out in Spring 2027. Unlike the first film, which came out on Ash Wednesday in February 2024, the highly anticipated sequel will be split into two sections: Part One on March 26, 2027 (Good Friday) and Part Two on May 6, 2027 (Ascension Day).

It’s not yet known how long each of the two halves will be. For reference, The Passion of the Christ was a little longer than two hours and captured everything from the start of Passover all the way to Jesus's rising from the tomb.

The Resurrection Of The Christ Cast

Though the cast of The Resurrection of the Christ hasn’t been finalized just yet, some of the major players from the 2004 film are expected to return when Mel Gibson's Biblical saga continues in 2027. In August 2025, Deadline reported that Jim Caviezel was expected to return in the role of Jesus Christ with Monica Bellucci believed to be playing Mary Magdalene once again.

Caviezel, who previously said The Passion of the Christ 2 would be the biggest movie in history, will most likely need to be assisted with some de-aging technology to look more like he did in his portrayal of the 33-year-old messiah, as the Sound of Freedom actor is well into his 50s at this point. And based on reports from Collider, this will very much be the case when The Resurrection of the Christ lands in theaters in 2027.

Mel Gibson Has Described The Biblical Epic As An 'Acid Trip' That'll Go From The Fall Of Angels To The Death Of The Last Apostle

As mentioned above, The Passion of the Christ followed Jesus from the Passover through his crucifixion and ended with him leaving the tomb after resurrecting from the dead. So, what will The Resurrection of the Christ be about? Well, no surprise here, but it will focus more on everything that happened after he died on the cross in Golgotha (or Calvary), which will take audiences to some extreme places. During an early 2025 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Mel Gibson described the upcoming movie as an “acid trip” before hinting at its scope:

In the conversation, Gibson also hinted that the two-part epic will go all the way through the death of the last apostle, John, who is traditionally considered to have died sometime around 95 AD, some 60 years after Jesus’ crucifixion in 33 AD.

In Addition To Directing The Two-Part Film, Mel Gibson Penned The Script With Randall Wallace

As has been the case for movies like The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, Mel Gibson is not only directing The Resurrection of the Christ, but he’s also responsible for penning its script. Back when THR reported on the long-in-the-works sequel back in 2016, the outlet mentioned that Gibson was working on the screenplay with Randall Wallace, a frequent collaborator of his going back to Braveheart more than 30 years ago.

When The Resurrection of the Christ comes out in 2027, it will be the first movie that Gibson has written since Get the Gringo, which came out 15 years earlier.

Production On The Resurrection Of The Christ Was Slated To Get Underway In August 2025

We haven’t seen any behind-the-scenes images from the making of The Resurrection of the Christ just yet, and there’s no confirmation if cameras are actually rolling yet, but production of Mel Gibson’s upcoming epic was slated to get underway in August 2025. Earlier in the year, Deadline reported that shooting would take place at the historic Cinecitta Studios in Rome after the company’s CEO, Manuela Cacciamani, revealed the news in an interview with an Italian newspaper.

According to Cacciamani, the massive shoot would require multiple stage constructions to pull off its scope and scale, which honestly sounds impressive based on what we know about the project so far.

How To Watch The Passion Of The Christ - Streaming on Netflix

By the time The Resurrection of the Christ comes out in Spring 2027, it will be 23 years since the release of The Passion of the Christ. That said, we’ll all probably want to revisit this 2004 box office smash ahead of the franchise’s return. Here are just a few ways to check out the movie, including an option that is completely free.

• Stream The Passion of the Christ on Netflix.
• Stream The Passion of the Christ on Plex.
• Rent/Buy The Passion of the Christ on iTunes.

Only time will tell if The Resurrection of the Christ is as impactful and successful as its predecessor, but with a lot of buzz surrounding it and some time to go before its release, anything can happen.

Many of the biggest action stars of all time, in the best action movies, got their start in the 1980s and 1990s when action movies really started to dominate Hollywood. Stars like Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Keanu Reeves all started making their mark in those seminal decades in film. This gallery is a tribute to all the action stars who are still making movies today, but began their careers decades ago.

Keanu Reeves

While he broke out in comedies like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood, it wasn't long before Keanu Reeves was starring in big action flicks like Point Blank and Speed. Reeves isn't just an action star, but with the lead in two now-iconic franchises, The Matrix and John Wick, he definitely belongs near the top of any list like this.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's career started early. She was just 6 years old when she appeared in her first movie in 1982 alongside her dad, Jon Voight. By the late '90s, she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. She got into action movies with films like Gone In 60 Seconds and her biggest franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and while she has always kept one foot in more indie-type movies (including as a director), she's been a steady action star for decades.

Nicolas Cage

It's hard to come up with a Hollywood star with a more diverse acting career than Nicolas Cage. His rage is actually pretty amazing, and that certainly includes starring in some great action movies, like the iconic Con Air and the National Treasure movies.

Scarlett Johansson

Like a lot of actors on this list, Scarlett Johansson can't be pigeon-holed as simply an action star. She is, however, one of the major players in the MCU as Black Widow, and has starred in other action flicks like Jurassic World Rebirth and Lucy.

Wesley Snipes

Most of the biggest box office successes of Wesley Snipes' early career were comedies like Major League, Wildcats, and White Men Can't Jump. In the early '90s he transistioned into action movies with leading roles in the likes of New Jack City, Passenger 57, and Rising Son. He also starred in Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, and, of course, as Blade in three movies.

Halle Berry

You might not think of Halle Berry as an action star... until you remember how many superhero movies she's starred in. Not only was she an important part of the X-Men franchise, but she was also Batwoman in 2004 and has also starred in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

This one is a little tricky. Technically, action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger had his first role way back in 1970 with Hercules in New York, but that was really a one-off B-movie that was soon forgotten. After he spent the 1970s winning every bodybuilding trophy on Earth, he entered Hollywood properly in 1982 when he starred in Conan the Barbarian. Everything since is action history.

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. doesn't jump off the page as an action star. The Oscar winner has proven he can star in any genre, but as the anchor of the MCU movies for more than a decade, he definitely belongs on this list.

Tom Cruise

There's nothing to be said about Tom Cruise that hasn't already been written, right? One of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, Cruise has starred in action movies like Top Gun and its sequel, a couple of Jack Reacher movies, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and great one-offs like Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report, to name just a few. Plus, he famously does a ton of his own stunts, which shows just how much he belongs on any list of big action stars.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich started as a model, but transitioned to movies with films like Return to the Blue Lagoon and Dazed and Confused. Soo,n though, she started popping up in legendary action movies like The Fifth Element and, most notably, as Alice in six Resident Evil movies.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the '80s, a whole slew of action-first stars emerged, and one of the most popular was Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme first gained fame in No Retreat, No Surrender, and followed that with hits like Bloodsport and Cyborg.

Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron can be divisive, but you can't argue that he knows how to create female action star leads with great parts and great casting. Linda Hamilton is a legend from her appearances in the Terminator movies over the years.

Kurt Russell

Okay, we have to acknowledge that Kurt Russell's career started when he was a child star with Disney way back in the 1960s. In the '80s, he fully dove into action flicks in a big way with movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, all directed by one of the decade's best directors, John Carpenter. He's since been in a slew of action movies.

Mel Gibson

With the Mad Max franchise and the Lethal Weapon movies, Mel Gibson would be on this list even if those were his only movies. Of course, he has so much more, like Braveheart, Ransom, and many of the other best action movies of the '90s.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton debuted in 1991's comedy Flirting, and in the '90s and beyond, she's starred in action movies like Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and 2012. She's also starred in TV shows like Westworld that fit in this genre, too.

Dolph Lundgren

One of the pillars of cheesy (and awesome) '80s action is the great Dolph Lundgren. From fantasy heroes like He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe to communist boxers like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, he's been a staple for decades in lots of action movies, including part of the O.G. cast in The Expendables franchise.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu kicked off her career in the early '90s, and before too long, she started doing some awesome action movies. Probably the most notable are the Charlie's Angels movies and the Kill Bill movies, but she's also got some less-well-known ones like The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA, and even superhero movies, like Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Jason Statham

Like other actors on this list, Jason Statham didn't start in true action flicks. His first roles were in the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but within a couple of years, he became a full-blown action hero in The Transporter and The Italian Job. Now it seems like he's in all the biggest action franchises, like The Expendables and the Fast & Furious movies.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the terrifying true story Monster. She's also been in acclaimed dramas like The Road, Cider House Rules, and Bombshell. Of course, she's starred in a whole slew of great action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Æon Flux, and a few of the Fast & Furious movies.

Jet Li

Jet Li started out in movies in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he quickly established himself as one of the great martial arts stars in Chinese-language films. After a decade and a half in Hong Kong, he moved to Hollywood in the late '90s, starring first as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. He became such a big action star that he was included in the first three Expendables movies.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner might not seem like the typical action star, but he definitely is. Movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Postman, and the incredibly underrated Waterworld prove that when he wants to be, he can be a great action hero.

Michelle Yeoh

Like some other actors on this list, Michelle Yeoh starred in martial arts movies in Hong Kong in the '90s. Her breakout film in the West was as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, where she showed the whole world her stage fighting and stunt skills. Since then, she's been in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bruce Willis

There's no way this list would be complete without the great Bruce Willis! Die Hard will always be one of the best action movies of all time and in many ways helps define what a action movie in the 1980s looked and felt like. Only Willis could have pulled off the the wit and charm of John McClane. He's been in a ton of action movies since, of course. He is now retired, due to his health, but he worked right up until he no longer could.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz took a long hiatus from acting, finally returning in the 2025 Netflix release, appropriately called Back in Action. While she may be best known for her roles in romcoms like There's Something About Mary and The Mask and dramas like Gangs of New York and Vanilla Sky, she's had her fair share of action hits too, like Charlie's Angels and Knight and Day.

Steven Seagal

It's easy to forget just how huge an action star Steven Seagal was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He actually sort of dominated the box office with movies like Hard To Kill, Above The Law, Mark For Death, and Out For Justice. He reached the artistic pinnacle of his career with 1992's Under Siege. It's not just a great movie for teenage boys like his first four movies; it's legitimately a great movie, with great performances from Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Sure, he's not making movies on that level anymore, but he's still been churning out straight-to-video-type releases for decades.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller's breakout came in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension in 1984, but he really hit the big time with 1987's classic RoboCop. Sure, it was insanely violent, but RoboCop had a unique political message, too. Weller's been going strong ever since.

Robert Patrick

The iconic T-1000 in Terminator 2 became one of the great action villains of the 1990s. Robert Patrick played the role of the callous, cold robot killer perfectly. It established him as a legit action star, and he's been busy ever since.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke isn't only an action star. In fact, most of his roles have been in serious dramas, starting with movies like The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9½ Weeks in the 1980s, but he's definitely proven his action bona fides with roles in Iron Man 2, Sin City, and The Expendables.

Matt Damon

Anyone who has starred as Jason Bourne in four films deserves to be on this list. Sure, Matt Damon might not be the first actor you think of as an action hero, but come on! You can't deny that he belongs on this list for those films alone. Throw in movies like The Martian and Elysium, and he definitely should be here.

Dwayne Johnson

We're making a slight exception here. Technically, Dwayne Johnson's first movie credit came in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, but he had been quite famous for years for his work in the WWE throughout the 1990s. So while he didn't get his start in movies until later, he was a well-established star years before that. Of course, in the two and a half decades since his first movie role, he's become one of the biggest action heroes of all time.

Zoe Bell

This is another interesting case. Zoe Bell's first acting role in a movie was in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in 2007. However, she had already built a legendary career as a stunt woman going back to the 1990s. With the Academy Awards (finally) adding a trophy for best stunts, we're going to include Bell here, because she's been performing in movies for decades.

Will Smith

He started as a rapper, then got into acting with comedy, and in the '90s, Will Smith became a big action star with movies like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and Men in Black. He's proven to be a very versatile actor over the years, starring in every genre of film you can think of.

It never ceases to amaze me when an actor is the spitting image of the real person they are selected to play. I do not think a historical portrayal necessarily lives or dies by the performer’s resemblance to the subject, but I think it is something to appreciate, especially when you consider the amount of biopics starring actors who bear absolutely no resemblance to their role. Here are a few notable examples of actors who were clearly hired for their talents above anything else.

Michael Shannon As Elvis Presley (Elvis & Nixon)

The most requested photo in the National Archives depicts Elvis Presley shaking hands with Richard Nixon in the Oval Office, and the events surrounding this historic meeting at the White House are dramatized in 2016's Elvis & Nixon. Kevin Spacey makes for a visually believable depiction of the 37th United States President, but the otherwise wonderfully talented Michael Shannon simply does not cut it as the one many call the King of Rock 'n Roll, even with a decent jumpsuit and wig.

John Wayne As Genghis Khan (The Conqueror)

Oh, boy, where do we begin with this one? The only visual evidence we have of what Genghis Khan looked like is artist renderings, but it does not take an expert to notice that John Wayne was not Asian. Still, the legendary Western movie star was cast as the Mongol chief in 1956's The Conqueror, which has since been regarded as one of the worst films ever made.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson As John Lennon (Nowhere Boy)

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson's 2009 music biopic Nowhere Boy focuses on the pre-Beatles life of John Lennon, as portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. If you ask me, the Golden Globe-winning actor might have been a better fit to play, perhaps, Paul McCartney or, better yet, George Harrison.

Tom Cruise As Barry Seal (American Made)

If more people knew about Barry Seal and what he looked like, I believe Tom Cruise's portrayal in 2017's American Made would have been criticized as one of the most egregious miscastings in Hollywood history. The otherwise talented movie star did absolutely nothing to alter his appearance and pass for the ill-fated, heavy-set CIA smuggler, save what I regard as an embarrassing Southern accent.

Julia Roberts As Erin Brockovich (Erin Brockovich)

Julia Roberts gives, arguably, the finest performance of her career as a single mother and paralegal who uncovers a small town pollution scandal in Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich from 2000. However, if a resemblance to the person an actor is portraying were part of the Academy's voting criteria, she might not have won the Oscar.

Denzel Washington As Frank Lucas (American Gangster)

Ridley Scott's 2007 biopic American Gangster dramatizes the career of mobster Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas' brother, Huey. Curiously, Ejiofor actually looks a whole lot more like the real Frank than the two-time Oscar winner. However, Washington was a good friend and frequent collaborator of the director's brother, Tony Scott, so he probably had the role in the bag for that, among other reasons.

Johnny Depp As J.M. Barrie (Finding Neverland)

Oddly enough, J.M. Barrie boasted a striking resemblance to another influential author, Edgar Allan Poe, with his tall forehead and small moustache. However, Johnny Depp, who played the Peter Pan author in 2004's Finding Neverland, does not boast a resemblance to either of them, if you ask me.

Hugh Jackman As P.T. Barnum (The Greatest Showman)

Let's not even bother talking about the many historical inaccuracies from The Greatest Showman, 2017's musical retelling of the origins of the circus, and even ignore the fact that P.T. Barnum was not the kindhearted man Hugh Jackman portrayed him as. All that matters to this list is whether or not the Wolverine star looked the part, and the famously attractive Australian actor most definitely was not a match for Barnum in that regard.

Michael Fassbender As Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs)

Michael Fassbender's Oscar-nominated performance in director Danny Boyle and writer Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs from 2015 is widely regarded as superior to Ashton Kutcher's portrayal in Jobs from two years earlier. However, at least the former That '70s Show cast member can say he resembled the tech pioneer more closely.

Jesse Eisenberg As Mark Zuckerberg (The Social Network)

Mark Zuckerberg once made a surprise SNL cameo, during which he stood right next to host Jesse Eisenberg on the Studio 8H stage, proving that they are certainly not a visual match. The actor does not even bother to imitate the Facebook founder's distinctly low voice when portraying him in 2010's The Social Network, but his Oscar nomination proves that that is not what really matters in the end.

Tom Hanks As Fred Rogers (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood)

Casting a universally beloved actor such as Tom Hanks to play a universally beloved children's television personality like Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fame, is brilliant in theory. However, even giving the Oscar winner the icon's signature haircut and sweaters is not quite enough to distract from the fact that you are still unmistakably watching Hanks on screen.

Leonardo DiCaprio As Howard Hughes (The Aviator)

A major inspiration for Marvel's Tony "Iron Man" Stark was Howard Hughes, whose resemblance is actually a striking match for both Robert Downey Jr. and Dominic Cooper, who plays Howard Stark in his early years in the MCU. In fact, I think either one of them would have been a better visual fit for the eccentric millionaire in The Aviator than Leonardo DiCaprio, even if his performance in the 2005 biopic makes it one of his best collaborations with the director, Martin Scorsese.

Warren Beatty And Faye Dunaway As Clyde Barrow And Bonnie Parker (Bonnie And Clyde)

From a performance standpoint, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway make a great onscreen duo portraying the titular notorious bank robbers in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde. However, the screen legends' casting does not earn the film any points for historical accuracy, considering Beatty does not have Clyde Barrow's jug ears, nor does Dunaway boast Bonnie Parker's sharp, thin face.

Taraji P. Henson As Katherine G. Johnson (Hidden Figures)

Taraji P. Henson gives an undeniably commanding performance in 2016's Hidden Figures as Katherine G. Johnson, a mathematician who was pivotal in helping NASA figure out space travel. Yet, when comparing the Empire star to photos of the real Johnson, it is clear the actor does not resemble her much at all.

Anthony Hopkins As Richard Nixon (Nixon)

Reportedly, Anthony Hopkins had some hesitation about taking on the lead role of Oliver Stone's 1995 biopic about Richard M. Nixon. Ultimately, I would say the Academy Award winner went on to give a great performance in Nixon, but I find myself distracted by his struggle to hide his accent and his obvious fake teeth and hairpiece that really do not help make him look any closer in resemblance to the disgraced U.S. president.

Margot Robbie As Queen Elizabeth I (Mary Queen Of Scots)

Cate Blanchett previously gave an Academy Award-nominated performance as the lead of 1998's Elizabeth, and even bore a strong resemblance to the royal based on artist renderings. I cannot say the same about Margot Robbie, even if the Australian actor's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots was still worthy of praise.

Benedict Cumberbatch As Alan Turing (The Imitation Game)

Benedict Cumberbatch has such a distinct appearance, making it difficult for him to resemble anyone else without heavy alterations. However, nothing was done to make him look any closer to World War II-era computer scientist Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.

Javier Bardem As Desi Arnaz (Being The Ricardos)

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman went above and beyond to physically become Lucille Ball for writer and director Aaron Sorkin's dramatization of what went on behind the scenes of the beloved TV sitcom, I Love Lucy. However, playing her onscreen husband is Oscar winner Javier Bardem, who does not pass for Desi Arnaz in the slightest.

Ray Liotta As Shoeless Joe Jackson (Field Of Dreams)

Technically, Ray Liotta plays the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, but even a person's spectral remnant should look something like them. The infamous MLB player had a much narrower face and wider ears, not to mention that he pitched left-handed, while the actor did the opposite in the beloved sports movie.

Beyoncé As Etta James (Cadillac Records)

No one could possibly deny that Beyoncé has the pipes to match Etta James, which had to have been the reason why she was cast in 2008's Cadillac Records. However, the "At Last" singer was short and round-faced, and the former Destiny's Child member is neither.

Dominic West As Prince Charles III (The Crown)

I mean no disrespect to Prince Charles III, but is it just me, or was The Wire star Dominic West just a little too handsome to play the Royal Family member on The Crown? Then again, any one cast member's portrayal on the historical Netflix series might pale in comparison to Elizabeth Debicki's striking resemblance to Princess Diana.

Kane Hodder As Ed Gein (Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield)

The most famous actor to wear Jason Voorhees' hockey mask in the Friday the 13th films must have seemed like an inspired choice to play one of the most notorious serial killers in history in 2007's Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield. However, the 6'2", broadly built Kane Hodder does not boast Gein's narrower face and small stature.

Clive Owen As Bill Clinton (Impeachment: American Crime Story)

In most cases, prosthetics can be very helpful in making an actor look more similar to the person they are portraying, such as when Charlize Theron became Megyn Kelly for Bombshell. Clive Owen adopted this method to play Bill Clinton on Impeachment: American Crime Story, but the makeup only caused the English actor to resemble the 1990s-era President even less.

Angelina Jolie As Christine Collins (Changeling)

Christine Collins is the subject of Clint Eastwood's 2008 period film, Changeling, which is based on the true story of when her missing son was replaced by an impostor. Had she been an even better-known historical figure, there might have been more criticism over casting Angelina Jolie, an actor known for her voluptuous lips, as the thin-lipped 1920s woman.

Fred Armisen As Barack Obama (Saturday Night Live)

Considering the fact that the otherwise extremely talented SNL star Fred Armisen is a white man with a subpar impersonation of the 44th. U.S. President, I'll just say that I am glad Jay Pharoah eventually took over as Barack Obama.

Tom Hulce As Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Amadeus)

Just based on artist renderings of the seminal composer, Tom Hulce was nowhere near a match to play the title role of director Milos Forman's Best Picture Oscar winner, Amadeus, from 1984. However, the actor is widely admired for his performance as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which earned him a well-deserved Academy Award nomination.

Robert Redford As Harry Longabaugh (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid)

I wonder how many others like me had no idea that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was based on a true story, which might be how the film was able to get away with casting actors who look nothing like the Western outlaws they play. For instance, Robert Redford's mustache works just fine for the role, but Harry Longabaugh, a.k.a. "The Sundance Kid," did not have long blonde locks.

Diana Ross As Billie Holiday (Lady Sings The Blues)

Most would agree that 1972's Lady Sings the Blues is the superior biopic about the trailblazing "Strange Fruit" singer over The United States vs. Billie Holiday from 2021. However, those same people might also agree that Andra Day was a better fit to play Holiday, physically speaking, than the otherwise wonderfully talented Diana Ross in the earlier film.

Robin Williams As Patch Adams (Patch Adams)

The real Patch Adams hates Tom Shadyac's biopic based on his life, which has nothing to do with the fact that Robin Williams looks nothing like the influential doctor. However, it's still impossible to ignore, especially with how they do not even bother to give the Oscar winner Adams' signature mustache.

Mel Gibson As William Wallace (Braveheart)

In the most well-known illustrations of William Wallace, the Scottish warrior is depicted as having short hair and a beard. Why director Mel Gibson opted against this look when he portrayed Wallace in Braveheart is beyond me.

Serena Scott Thomas As Princess Diana (Diana: Her True Story)

Many actors have portrayed Princess Diana to varying degrees of success, but most consider Serena Scott Thomas from the 1993 two-part miniseries, Diana: Her True Story, to be one of the weakest matches, purely in terms of her physical resemblance.

Zoe Saldaña As Nina Simone (Nina)

The 2016 biopic, Nina, sparked controversy when Zoe Saldaña donned skin-darkening makeup and a prosthetic nose to better resemble singer Nina Simone, which the actor would later admit she regretted.

From the outside looking in, being an A-list Hollywood movie star may seem like a pretty sweet gig, as fame certainly has its benefits, after all. Jason Isaacs isn’t an actor without fame, given he's appeared in major TV shows and movies, including one of the most iconic franchises of all time. However, the White Lotus alum isn’t quite among the top tier of the most famous movie stars in the world. It turns out that it works out just fine for him, and he has a Mel Gibson-related to story to illustrate that.

Jason Isaacs isn’t a leading man with his own blockbuster action movie franchise, but he has played opposite many actors who have done exactly that. Vulture recently asked the Harry Potter alum how it feels to see the likes of Daniel Craig become huge stars, and he relayed a story from his time working with Mel Gibson, which taught him there’s a downside to global fame he doesn’t really want. Isaacs said…

Mel Gibson was indeed a highly sought-after actor years ago, having solidified his place in the business as the lead of the Max Max franchise (which he's done with now) and other films. Not only that, Gibson was even courted for James Bond years ago.

At this point, Gibson likely no longer has to deal with that level of fame he had back in the late 1990s. Still, it’s not difficult to see Jason Isaacs' point. Gibson knew that simply being in public was going to draw crowds, so he felt he would ruin the experience for others if he showed up to karaoke and ended up doing exactly that. The alternative was to sit out an experience where others are having fun, which doesn’t sound like fun either.

Jason Isaacs says that he was offered a lot of “heavy” roles playing opposite “A-list macho movie stars” following his success on The Patriot. He largely turned them down to play smaller roles and appear on stage. While he admits he regrets turning them down because of the money he would have made, he doesn’t regret doing it because of how they might have impacted his career. There’s at least an argument they could have made him a bigger star, but he seems fine with that.

Of course, as previously alluded to, Isaacs hasn't avoided major movie and TV projects entirely. He was a key part of the Harry Potter cast and was a major focus of attention on the latest season of HBO's The White Lotus (on which he performed a nude scene).

I wouldn't be surprised if gets the odd stranger asking for a picture or an autograph here and there. Yet he doesn't have to deal with fame to the degree that the likes of Tom Cruise or Dwayne Johnson likely would in the same situation. Given that Isaacs still gets to work consistently and not be hounded by the public, I'd say he has the best of both worlds. You can stream his work on The White Lotus using a Max subscription.

There is nothing more iconic than a good looking leather jacket on a movie star. There are as many styles of jacket as there are stars, which makes looking good easy. From Marlon Brando to Keanu Reeves, leather jackets have been a part of some of the most incredible looking costumes ever. So, here is our list of some of the most iconic leather coats and jackets in Hollywood history.

Marlon Brando In The Wild One

This list wouldn't be complete without including the O.G. leather look on Marlon Brando in The Wild One. The 1953 film about a biker gang was not only a big hit in theaters, but it was a huge influence on society. From the outlaw biker gangs who took inspiration from the look to regular folks who saw the leather jackets as the coolest of cool.

Wesley Snipes In Blade

Wesley Snipes is the coolest-looking superhero in Blade with his iconic look in leather and sunglasses. Everything about the costume and the character oozes cool and defines Blade's renegade nature.

Arnold Schwarzenegger In The Terminator Movies

Leather jackets definitely provide a look for someone to say "Don't mess with me," and nowhere is this more true in Hollywood than when Arnold Schwarzenegger wears one in the Terminator movies. Starting with the first movie, he's usually seen in one and you definitely don't want to mess with him.

Rooney Mara In The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Leather jackets have always been a symbol of rebelliousness in Hollywood. In The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, it's the perfect look for Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) to portray both her anti-social nature and her tough exterior. You can't imagine wearing anything else.

John Travolta In Saturday Night Fever

In the 1970s, no one was cooler than John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. The strut, the hair, the dancing, and the leather jacket all made that possible. The look is so iconic that people are still imitating it today, five decades later.

Carrie-Anne Moss In The Matrix Movies

It's safe to say that The Matrix movies would not be the same if the characters were dressed in anything but the coolest and toughest-looking leather jackets and coats. From Neo to Morpheus to, of course, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) in her amazing looking long leather coat. It's just such an amazing bit of costume.

Brad Pitt In Fight Club

Not every leather jacket has to be black to look completely awesome. Tyler Durden's reddish-brown jacket in Fight Club has become one of the most famous looks in Hollywood. Of course, it's easy for Brad Pitt to pull off almost any look, but he might just look his coolest in Fight Club.

Hugh Jackman In The X-Men Films

Leather jackets have been used a lot over the years to depict both heroes and anti-heroes. Nowhere is this more clear than on Logan aka Wolverine, as depicted by Hugh Jackman in the X-Men and now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Logan is anti-social to an extreme and his leather jacket definitely indicates that you don't want to pick a fight with him.

Olivia Newton-John In Grease

The costumes in Grease are amazing. Of course, the T-Birds' jackets are fantastic, but it's the leather jacket that Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) dons in the last act that looks the most amazing. She completely changes her look and the jacket is what inspires the whole thing.

Keanu Reaves In The John Wick Movies

Keanu Reaves loves to wear leather in his movies, but the brown leather jacket in the first John Wick movie is probably the coolest. It's great because it's cool as heck, but it's not too over the top for the retired assassin. It makes John Wick seem normal, yet completely cool and ready for anything.

Eddie Murphy In Raw

In his standup movie Raw, Eddie Murphy takes the cool leather look to the next level. Not only does he have an amazing purple leather jacket, he compliments it with matching leather pants. It wasn't the first time he wore a leather outfit on stage, he wore a similar red one in his first standup movie, Delirious, but the purple one in Raw tops the red one in every way.

Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds

Dangerous Minds isn't the best movie in Michelle Pfeiffer's filmography, despite having an amazing soundtrack, but for an actress who had a whole bunch of iconic looks in the '80s and '90s, her jeans and leather jacket look in the movie is one of the most memorable. It's a costume that tells you so much about the character without saying a word.

Steve McQueen In The Great Escape

It's hard to argue that Steve McQueen isn't one of the coolest stars in Hollywood history. Of course, you can earn that kind of praise without at least one leather jacket. In The Great Escape, McQueen's brown leather bomber jacket is the epitome of cool. Even when he is covered in dirt, he looks great, but it's when he's wearing the jacket that he looks his best.

Tom Cruise In Top Gun

In the '80s, there was no movie cooler than Top Gun and there was no cooler character than Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise. The leather bomber jacket Cruise wore in the movie became so iconic and such a key characteristic of the role that when Top Gun: Maverick released its first teaser, the jacket was a big part of it.

Harrison Ford In Raiders Of The Lost Ark

There is something about a distressed leather jacket that brings authenticity to a character that few other costume pieces can. Nowhere in film history is this more true than with Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in all of the Indiana Jones movies. The jacket, along with the hat and the whip, completely define the character in every way. Is there any other kind of jacket you could ever see Indy wearing? Of course not.

Uma Thurman In Kill Bill

There are a lot things that make Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill cool, but Uma Thurman's yellow leather motorcycle jacket tops the list. It's become an iconic costume over the years, and while not everyone could pull off the look, Thurman certainly does and everyone loves it.

Mel Gibson In The Mad Max Movies

As distressed leather jackets go, Mel Gibson's in the Mad Max movies is among the best looking. Looking into a dystopian future, it makes complete sense that leather jackets would still be part of the fashion. They are almost indestructible and have that classic look that almost no other piece of clothing has.

Joey Lauren Adams In Chasing Amy

This one flies a little bit under the radar, but it's an amazing look and deserves to be on this list. Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) in Chasing Amy has a lot of "rock and roll" to her style and nothing says rock star like leather.

Samuel L. Jackson In The MCU

As Deadpool asks in the post-credits scene in the original Deadpool movie, "Did you expect Samuel L. Jackson in a saucy leather number?" Well, yes, frankly we might have, since Jackson, playing the cooler-than-cool Nick Fury often shows up in a fantastic-looking leather jacket in the MCU. It is something we expect (even if Deadpool wasn't in the MCU at the time).

Tom Hardy In The Dark Knight Rises

Great Villains are often in leather. In The Dark Knight Rises Bane wears one of the greatest leather coats ever. The fur-lined brown leather number is perfect for his character and it's a look that not every villain could pull off, but Bane (Tom Hardy) certainly does.

Halle Berry In Die Another Day

Halle Berry has a few iconic outfits in the Pierce Brosnan-led James Bond film Die Another Day and while her bikini may be the most famous, the red leather jacket she wears for a lot of the movie is one heck of a look too. Sure, the movie isn't the best Brosnan-era Bond film, but you can't deny how great Berry looks in her costumes.

James Dean In Rebel Without A Cause

Seven decades after his death in 1955, James Dean is still the epitome of cool. Though he only starred in three movies, his impact on pop culture is immense. His red leather jacket in Rebel Without A Cause is one reason why. Because Dean's career was so brief, we don't have a lot of "looks" from him, making the jacket that much more iconic.

Kurt Russell In Escape From New York

If you want to look cool and look like you just don't care about anything, a distressed leather jacket can tell a lot of people just how you feel without saying a word. Take the look of Snake Pilsson (Kurt Russell) in Escape From New York. Has anyone ever looked tougher, cooler, and more aloof in an action film? No, not really.

Sigourney Weaver In Aliens

Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is one of the most amazing characters in action movie history. Of course, that means she must look cool as heck in leather, and she does in Aliens. It's not her most iconic look, but come on, you can't deny how awesome it is.

Tom Cruise In Mission: Impossible

Let's be honest, Tom Cruise always looks good in a nice leather jacket, but if you're ranking his costumes by how good looking they are, the jacket he wears in the first Mission: Impossible is at the top. When he is doing his sleight of hand with the disc with the NOC list on it while wearing the jacket is one of the best non-action scenes in the whole series.

Peter Fonda And Dennis Hopper In Easy Rider

If you wanted to be a rebellious hippie in the late 1960s, a leather jacket was a good place to start with your look. Especially if you were on a motorcycle like Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in Easy Rider. Fonda has a more traditional biker look with his black leather jacket, but Hopper's character goes for a sweet suede jacket with some awesome fringe. Both look amazing.

Anne Hathaway In Get Smart

Get Smart might not be the best movie that Anne Hathaway has ever been in, but her white leather coat looks fantastic in it. It's not the only time Hathaway has shown up in an iconic leather look, who could ever forget her look in The Dark Knight Rises, it is a unique look that you don't see in a lot of movies. Of course, she completely pulls it off.

Matt Dillon In The Outsiders

The greasers in The Outsiders are mostly known for their jean jackets, but one greaser, Dally (Matt Dillion) wears a leather jacket and he looks exactly the part in it. It's not the cleanest jacket in the world, we wouldn't expect it to be, but man it looks so cool!

Laurence Fishburne In The Matrix

Like many of the characters in The Matrix, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) looks totally iconic in his leather duster. Sure it's not a "jacket," but there was no way we could leave it off of this list!

Jon Voight In Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy is a little bit of a forgotten movie these days, but it was a massive hit when it was released. Those who know, know. Jon Voight's suede jacket with the long fringe isn't a look everyone can pull off, and even in the movie it's not always the best look, but looking back, it's safe to say it belongs on this list as one of the best in Hollywood history.

Jason Momoa In Fast X

It's not hard for Jason Momoa to look cool, I think we can all agree. Still, in Fast X, that black and white snakeskin-looking leather jacket is simply amazing. It's not a look that anyone can pull off, in fact, many would look ridiculous in it, but not Momoa, not by a longshot.

Emma Stone In La La Land

Red leather is a fantastic look, though not everyone looks good in it. Emma Stone in La La Land isn't just anyone though. Stone just looks fantastic in the jacket and it, along with all the others on this list, has become iconic.

We’re all getting too old for this shit. And by that, I mean sequels to Lethal Weapon. The original buddy-cop thriller launched Mel Gibson and Danny Glover into the pantheon of Hollywood action heroes, and spawned three sequels that grew the franchise family to include Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and more. There has been talk about a Lethal Weapon 5 for years now, with Gibson even offering to direct the movie after the death of original director Richard Donner in 2021. Well, Gibson has an update on Lethal Weapon 5, and it’s a bit of Great News… Terrible News.

The Braveheart director appears to be making a bit of a comeback after spending several years in direct-to-DVD purgatory. Gibson tarnished his own reputation with controversial off-screen behavior, but seems to be re-establishing himself in the industry. He’s the director of Flight Risk, a film starring Mark Wahlberg. There are rumors he’ll direct The Passion of the Christ 2. And during a recent appearance at FanX in Salt Lake City, Gibson once again was asked about the status of Lethal Weapon 5. To which the actor/director replied (via ABC4):

OK, that’s a lot to unpack. Personally, I consider the first Lethal Weapon to be one of the best action-comedies ever made. And its immediate sequel, Lethal Weapon 2, probably ranks as one of the best sequels… ever. Most of that comes down to the chemistry shared between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh – mismatched cops forced to work together who eventually form fraternal bonds. I’m not sure that the franchise needs another one. I’m immediately drawn to the tragedy that is A Good Day To Die Hard, the fifth installment in the Die Hard series that is a putrid excuse for a Die Hard movie, and one of the worst sequels known to mankind.

But Gibson calling this script “the best one of the whole series” makes me sit up straight and pay attention. This isn’t a fledgling director trying to drum up support and attention for his student project. This is Mel Gibson talking about a sequel probably not a lot of people think they need. And he thinks it can be the best entry in the series.

There have been attempts to make a new Lethal Weapon for years. And honestly, if they did one now, they would HAVE to address the reality that Gibson and Glover are 68 and 78, respectively. But, a story that factors in their age, and leans into the seriousness of a case as opposed to the slapstick that drove parts three and four in the series could be excellent. Imagine a dramatic Lethal Weapon 5 which finds these two characters confronting their own mortality? I want to see that movie.

At the same time, Mel Gibson is persona non grata in most corners of the studio system, and I’m assuming that’s why he can’t get this movie off the ground. Do we want it without Donner? So we want it with a very old Riggs and Murtaugh? I’d like to see them get one last chance to end the series on a high point. Especially after hearing Mel Gibson talk about the quality of the script he claims to have. We’ll report any updates on Lethal Weapon 5, if and when they happen.

Acting and directing are two very different skills, and for someone to be able to do both is a mark of a hard-working and talented person. It doesn't always work out for actors, but it's remarkable how often it does. Here are 32 such examples of great actors who became great directors as well. 

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood's career has lasted an unbelievable eight decades. He started humbling with small roles in the '50s and as the decades have gone on, he's only gotten bigger and bigger. After directing his first movie, 1971's Play Misty for Me, he's gone on to helm a remarkable 39 more and has won 2 Best Director Oscars, for 1993's Unforgiven and 2005's Million Dollar Baby.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard has been in the lives and living rooms of Americans since he was just a kid as an actor on The Andy Griffith Show. He went on to star in Happy Days in the 1970s before directing his first low-budget film, Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He's since gone on to direct such classics as Splash, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and many others. 

Bradley Cooper

If the start of Bradley Cooper's directing career is any indication, you can expect huge things. So far, the actor-turned-director has only helmed two movies, A Star Is Born and Maestro and both have been nominated for Best Picture Oscars. Not a shabby record. 

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall got her first big break on the sitcom The Odd Couple but became a household name as Lavern in Lavern & Shirley. She didn't stay in TV though, instead, she started directing and made two of the most beloved Gen X movies of all time, Big and A League of Their Own. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck might not have been the first actor you picked to become a director, but his stellar career as an actor is matched by his work as a director. In fact, though he's never won an acting Oscar (something that should be remedied), he did win Best Director for Argo. 

Robert Redford

By the time Robert Redford directed his first movie, Ordinary People, in 1980, he was already one of the most legendary film stars ever. The second half of his career is as known for his directing as it is for his acting, with movies like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau's acting career started humbling with supporting roles in movies like Rudy and PCU. After he wrote and starred in Swingers, his star shined a little brighter. That was only the beginning though. Favreau has the honor of directing the movie that launched the most successful film franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Iron Man and its sequel. He's since moved on to Disney live-action remakes with The Lion King and The Jungle Book. Oh, and he also directed one of the most beloved holiday movies ever with. Elf.

Mel Gibson

The controversial career of Mel Gibson began with a small movie that made huge waves in his native Australia. Mad Max made him famous and by the late late-'80s, he was one of the biggest stars in the world. He then moved into directing and reached his pinnacle early with Braveheart for which he won Best Director. 

Richard Attenborough

As an actor, Richard Attenborough starred in massive hits across generations with movies like The Great Escape and Jurassic Park. As a director, he helmed some of the best biopics of all time, like Gandhi, A Cry Freedom, and Chaplin as well a the legendary war flick, A Bridge Too Far. 

Regina King

Regina King's directorial career is only getting started, but judging by her first movie, One Night In Miami, the future is bright. So far, the Academy Award-winning actress has mostly directed TV shows, but you can be sure more films will be coming her way.

Denzel Washington

What can we say about Denzel Washington that hasn't already been said? He's a living legend at this point, as a multiple Oscar winner and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's also one heck of a director with movies like Fences and The Great Debaters.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski became part of our collective family as Jim on The Office. Who would have thought from that role, his career in Hollywood would reach the point that he is a major power player? Now that he's moved into directing, the sky is truly the limit. The first movie Krasinski directed, The Hollars, made for a humble beginning, but his second, A Quiet Place established him as a force to reckon with and it's since become a franchise.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks might not have been an actor you'd have guessed would go into directing, like others on this list, but she has in a big way. She has shown she can direct blockbusters like Pitch Perfect 2 and indie darlings like that one about the bear who indulges in some, uh, white powder he finds, and goes on a rampage.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is quickly becoming a voice of a generation. Her direction and writing of Barbie has been praised far and wide for its snappy dialog and heartfelt message. Gerwig's acting career started in the mid-'00s when she was mostly in smaller, supporting roles. Since moving into directing, she's become a huge star.

Jordan Peele

Key & Peele was a huge hit for Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, and made them both stars. No one expected Peele to turn to directing horror movies, but that's exactly what he did and we should all be grateful for it. With massive hits like Get Out, Nope, and Us, the future is bright for Peele and for all of us too, who will get to watch his work.

Rob Reiner

Though he had a leg up coming from a Hollywood family, Rob Reiner has staked out a claim all his own in the entertainment business. First as an actor on the hit show All in the Family, then as the director of some of the most loved movies of all time. Starting with his first movie, This is Spinal Tap, and running through the '80s and early '90s, he had an unbelievable run that included The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Misery. Wow!

George Clooney

Not only is George Clooney one of the most bankable movie stars ever, he's also a fantastic director. His acting career is legendary and his directing career, while not quite at the level of his acting, is still fantastic. He's directed TV (Catch-22) and movies (The Boys In The Boat, The Midnight Sky, Good Night, and Good Luck, among others) and you can be sure there will be more from him.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's directing career hasn't always gotten the best reviews, but I'd say her movies are very underrated. The talented actress has an eye for behind the camera as well, and movies like Unbroken and First They Killed My Father are powerful movies.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton's acting career came on as a slow burn to fame, but his directing career started with a band. His first film was a masterpiece called Sling Blade. he followed that up with the underrated All The Pretty Horse and a few others, though his pace has slowed over the last couple of decades. Let's hope he finds that directing bug again. 

Ben Stiller

There was a time in the '90s and '00s when it seemed like Ben Stiller was in every movie released. Not only was he working hard in front of the camera, he was killing it behind the camera as well. Starting really with Reality Bites, and moving on to great movies like the controversial but hilarious Tropic Thunder, and the Zoolander movies. 

Jodie Foster

The great Jodie Foster has been an acclaimed actor and star since her teenage years and of course, that talent has translated to directing. Though lately she's done mostly TV work like directing episodes of Black Mirror and Orange is the New Black, she's done a few movies too, like Little Man Tate and Money Monster.

Kevin Costner

In addition to being one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Kevin Costner has never shied away from making epic films. Though he's only directed four movies in his career, they have all been big films. Starting with Dances With Wolves in 1990, he's since directed The Postman, Open Range, and 2024's Horizon: An American Saga.

Tim Robbins

The directing bug caught Tim Robbins in the early '90s and he directed a couple of great movies with Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking. He's directed a smattering of movies and TV shows more recently, but he's mostly stuck to acting over the last few years. 

Sean Penn

Since the early 1980s, Sean Penn has been wowing moviegoers with his impressive acting chops and diversity. In the '90s he dipped his toe into directing with his first film, The Indian Runner and has directed a good handful of movies since, with his best being Into The Wild in 2007. 

Zach Braff

Acting-wise Zach Braff's big break came as a regular cast member of the hit sitcom Scrubs. As a directed, he burst onto the scene with his very first movie, Garden State in 2004. He's continued directing here and there over the last 20 years, including the great movie about getting older, Going In Style, and a few others, in addition to some TV work. 

Warren Beatty

In the 1970s, there was no bigger movie star than Warren Beatty. By the end of the decade, he had moved into directing as well, starting with 1978's Heaven Can Wait and continuing the '80s and '90s with acclaimed movies like Red and maybe his most remembered, Dick Tracy in 1990.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is a force of nature. For decades she's been one of the best and most popular actresses in Hollywood, and though she's only dipped her toes into directing, mostly in TV, she's on this list for one important reason. Keaton directed the music video for "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and that is a stone-cold Gen X classic. 

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh might be as well known for his directing as he is for his acting, and that's really saying something. Not only has he directed some of the best Shakespeare adaptions for the silver screen, but more recently he's been killing it with his Agatha Christie adaptations. 

Leonard Nimoy

Appropriately, Leonard Nimoy's first foray into feature film direction came in the Star Trek franchise when he directed both Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Outside of the iconic franchise he helped make famous he also directed the beloved Three Men and a Baby. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has always been a self-starter. His work to get the original Rocky made is legendary and after it made him a huge star, he wasted no time getting into directing, starting with Rocky II and adding Rocky III, Rocky IV, and 2006's Rocky Balboa as well. Of course, he's also directed in two other franchises he was at the center of with 2008's Rambo and the first Expendable movie. 

Helen Hunt

This one might surprise you, but Helen Hunt has had an impressive career as a director. Most of her work has been on television on shows varying from her own Mad About You and This Is Us. She also has two feature films under her belt with 2007's Then She Found Me and 2014's Ride. 

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton is seemingly everywhere these days, popping up in all kinds of movies and TV shows from Star Wars stuff to Dark Matter. He's also started directing, but his output is limited, with 2015's underrated The Gift and 2018 Boy Erased. Let's hope he finds more time to direct in his busy schedule. 

Accents are incredibly difficult and to be clear, this isn't knocking any of the people on this list's acting talents. Some of the best actors in the world often struggle with accents. In fact, everyone on this list should be praised for taking the risk and even attempting one. That said, this is still a list of actors with bad accents in a role. 

Dick Van Dyke – Mary Poppins

Quite possibly the most notorious of an actor messing up an accent is Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. The Midwest native's take on a London Cockney accent is... rough. The rest of his performance is legendary, of course, but boy, it's rough to hear him talk sometimes. 

Keanu Reeves – Bram Stoker's Dracula

Keanu Reeves is an icon, but let's be real, some of his acting performances in the past haven't been the best. The most glaring example is his performance in Bram Stoker's Dracula. It's a stilled example of an English accent that comes across as really unconfident. He's much better in the John Wick movies, to say the least. 

Don Cheadle – Ocean's Eleven

Don Cheadle is one of the best actors in Hollywood and is proof that even the best get it wrong sometimes. His cockney accent in Ocean's Eleven is brutal. In a way, it can be excused, as everyone in the movie is just chewing the scenery the whole time, but still, you expect more. Especially because we've all seen him do amazing accents like in Hotel Rwanda, a movie so good you never want to see it again. 

Daniel Craig - Knives Out

This one might get some pushback from fans – and I am a huge fan of Daniel Craig and Knives Out – but the accent is distracting. Cajun accents are tough, so for even attempting it, Craig gets credit, but he's been much better at other accents, like his straight southern accent in Lucky Logan. 

Kevin Costner – Thirteen Days

Thirteen Days is one of the best movies about the Cold War we've ever seen, but Kevin Costner's Boston accent isn't what makes it great. Costner's performance outshines the accent, but it's still pretty distracting, as it's way off. Boston accents are hard to do, so we'll forgive him. 

Tom Cruise – Far And Away

Another one of the most notorious accents in Hollywood history is Tom Cruise's attempt at an Irish accent in Far And Away. The movie itself is a lot better than its reputation would have you believe, but Cruise, one of the biggest movie stars of the last few decades, has a rough go of it. He's not alone in that, either. 

John Malkovich – Rounders

John Malkovich's career is filled with amazing, and often over-the-top performances. Maybe his most over-the-top is that of the Russian "KGB" in Rounders. His accent is presumably supposed to be Russian, but wow, who knows what it really is? It's wild, that's for sure. He even joked to co-star Matt Damon that he is a "terrible actor," which, of course, is false, even here. 

Brad Pitt – Meet Joe Black

This one is on the list because it's a popular choice as one of the worst ever, but I'm here to defend it...sort of. His Cajun patois is not great, that's true, but, for one, that's a really hard accent to nail, and some have defended it. It also could be argued that it fits his character to not quite understand how to speak normally, as he talks about in other parts of the film. Pitt gets a pass here. 

Mickey Rooney – Breakfast At Tiffany's

In one of the most indefensible roles in the history of Hollywood, Mickey Rooney's bad accent is actually the least offensive part. You can argue about 1961 being a different time, but it wasn't that different, and having Rooney play an offensive caricature of a Japanese man was called out even at the time for how offensive it was. 

Julia Roberts – Michael Collins

The beloved Julia Roberts has been in some of the best movies of the last 30 years. Michael Collins isn't a bad movie, but it's also not among Roberts' best films. While she can usually be counted on for great performances, her Irish accent here misses the mark. 

Anne Hathaway – One Day

Anne Hathaway is an Oscar winner for good reason. She's consistently great in her movies, and in roles that range from rom-coms to comic supervillains. In One Day, she adopts a British accent...sort of. It's not bad when she nails it, but it's wildly inconsistent. 

Brad Pitt - Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years In Tibet is an underrated movie in my opinion. In all honesty, I don't know if Brad Pitt's accent is truly bad, or if it's just really annoying. I tend to think it's a combo of both. Her performance otherwise is great, and the movie's visuals are stunning, making it well worth suffering through the iffy accent. 

Jack Nicholson – The Departed

This is one that might get some pushback, but I think Jack Nicholson's Boston accent in The Departed is terrible. Given all the great accents in the movie, some by Boston natives, some not, this one really sticks out as not being all that great. Nicholson is awesome as the menacing Frank Costello, but he should have just played it straight. 

Angelina Jolie – Alexander

Okay, what in the ancient world is going on here? Angelina Jolie's accent in Alexander is just wild. It's sort of Greek, sure, but we're not even sure what the ancient Greeks sounded like, so why even go here with this acting choice? Jolie is a wonderful actor and director, but this is not her finest moment. 

Emma Watson – The Bling Ring

Emma Watson's biggest accent sin in The Bling Ring is how inconsistent it is. Maybe the hardest part for an actor is staying consistent, but this one still needs to be highlighted here. A Valley Girl, Watson is not. 

Ewan McGregor – Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down has an amazing cast, many of whom are not American, all playing American servicemen. To be honest, all the accents in the movie, from Orlando Bloom, Tom Hardy, and others are a little dicey. It probably isn't fair to only call out Ewan McGregor, but it's not his finest work, either. 

Kevin Costner – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

What can be said here? It's the bad accent that beats them all. Kevin Costner's accent (or sometimes lack of) in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has been knocked ad nauseam over the years and there isn't much more to say about it. It's not just poor, it's not even there sometimes. 

Cameron Diaz – Gangs Of New York

Let's be clear, Cameron Diaz is not alone with her poor accent in Gangs of New York. Leonardo DiCaprio isn't at his best, either. It's maybe a little more striking in Diaz's case though. It's hard though, when you are going up with Daniel Day-Lewis, who probably spent months and months perfecting his American accent for the role.  

Blake Lively – The Town

If you're not from Boston, it had be a deceptively difficult accent to master. It's not as simple as dropping the Rs, though that is hard to do consistently also. It's also the long vowels and other more nuanced parts of the accent that make it very tricky. Blake Lively is great in The Town, but her accent leaves a lot to be desired. 

Vanessa Hudgens – The Princess Switch

In one of the weirder choices on this list, Vanessa Hudgens decided to go with what is ostensively a British accent in The Princess Switch when she easily could have just gone with her regular accent. Sure, she needed to differentiate herself from...herself as she was also playing the other role in the movie in this Parent Trap-like movie, but still, she was a princess of a fictional country, the accent could have been anything 

Scarlett Johansson – Don Jon

Scarlett Johansson is from New York, and is an excellent actor. That's why it's such a surprise that she missed with a New Jersey accent in Don Jon. Once again, it's an example of a great performance losing a point or two because of the dodgy accent.

Jared Leto – House Of Gucci

Most of the actors in House Of Gucci struggle a little with the Italian accents. Jared Leto, however, sounds like a cartoon character. It's more like Mario than Paolo Gucci. I give him props for trying, heck I give them all props for trying, but it just doesn't work. 

Mel Gibson – Braveheart

I have a lot of problems with Braveheart. The history is notoriously poor, and the acting by Mel Gibson is so over the top, that it's comical, hence all the memes, right? Often lost in that is how sketchy Gibson's Scottish accent is in the movie. 

Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is arguably the best director of the last 30 years with nine (or ten, depending on how you count Kill Bill) great movies out of nine directed. Django Unchained is no exception, but you can't excuse the Australian accent Tarantino tries to pull off in his acting role in the movie. It's not good - and it's not like he's a bad actor, either. 

Harrison Ford - K-19: The Widowmaker

With all due respect to the Gods of the 1970s and '80s, I don't want to besmirch the great Harrison Ford. Sadly, I have to for his messy attempt at a Russian accent in K-19: The Widowmaker. We all love Ford's gruff voice, but it's better when he sticks with his natural accent. 

Nicole Kidman – Far And Away

Tom Cruise gets a lot of gruff for his Irish accent in Far and Away, but that shouldn't distract from Nicole Kidman's sketchy work. The Aussie struggles as much as the American in the film. 

Alan Rickman - The Butler

Alan Rickman, who is one of my favorite actors ever and responsible for some amazing performances, has one of his most uneven in The Butler as President Ronald Reagan. It's not just the accent, though that is part of it. He speaks weirdly softly and it feels like a shallow performance, which was unlike Rickman, most of the time.  

Michael Caine - On Deadly Ground

The great Michael Caine has but one accent – the Michael Caine Accent. It's so iconic, that it's as imitated as Christopher Walken's. When he gets away from it, it gets a little bizarre, as it does in On Deadly Ground. Now, the semi-retired Caine is co-starring in a Steven Seagal movie, so you can't blame him for really going over the top, even if he misses. 

Brad Pitt – The Devil's Own

In The Devil's Own, Brad Pitt makes a go at an Irish accent. I'll always applaud Pitt for going for tougher roles, but he really does struggle with accents, and here is no exception. It is distracting, but I appreciate that he goes for it. 

Jennifer Lawrence – Red Sparrow

As the winner of one Oscar and owner of three more nominations, Jennifer Lawrence is clearly one of the best actresses so far in the 21st Century. Red Sparrow is not her best work though. The movie is surprisingly boring, and her Russian accent, while far from the worst here, is in and out throughout the whole film. 

Ana De Armas – Blonde

Make no mistake, Ana De Armas made a bold decision to play not only an American actress but one whose voice is very familiar to movie fans everywhere, Marilyn Monroe. Blonde was a challenging choice for the Cuban actress and for that she should be celebrated, but when the brass tacks were down, her accent was not the best part of her performance. 

Charlie Hunnam – Green Street Hooligans

If you want to understand how hard accents can be, look no further than Englishman Charlie Hunnam's attempt at a cockney accent in Green Street Hooligans. While Hunnam is English, he's from Newcastle, not East London, and boy does it show. Hunnam was decent doing an American accent in Sons of Anarchy, but he doesn't kill the cockney accent here, in fact, he's so inconsistent it's distracting in an otherwise super fun cult classic. 

The top actors in Hollywood make a lot of money, but anyone will tell you that the real money is in production. That means that many of the biggest stars in the world have formed their own companies to produce both their own films and other projects that interest them. 

Often, these company names and logos appear at the beginning of the movies, along with larger, more recognizable studios like Paramount and Disney. Here is a list of many of the actors with their own production companies, along with the name of the company to look out for. 

Jordan Peele - Monkeypaw Productions

Jordan Peele has become one of the most exciting and interesting directors and producers in recent years. His Monkeypaw Productions has produced or co-produced his own movies, like Get Out, Us, and Nope, as well as other films like Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, and Adamma Ebo's Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul.

Tom Hanks - Playtone

Tom Hanks' Playtone has been wildly successful on the big and small screens. With movies starring Hanks like Cast Away, Charlie Wilson's Way, The Polar Express, and Greyhound, as well as films not starring him, like Mamma Mia and its sequel, the company keeps winning. It has also hit it big on TV with shows like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and John Adams on HBO, and the CNN series about each decade of the last 60 years. 

Elizabeth Banks - Brownstone Productions

Elizabeth Banks has been on a hot streak with her company Brownstone Productions. It's most notable for the Pitch Perfect franchise, but the company has also co-produced movies like 2019's Charlie's Angels, and that surprise 2023 hit about a bear that gets into something it should not have in the woods, with scary (and hilarious) results. 

Reese Witherspoon - Pacific Standard

When Reese Witherspoon started Pacific Standard in 2012, she did so with the express purpose of highlighting and producing projects with strong female leads, crews, and topics. So far, it's been a huge success with films like Gone Girl and Wild, as well as TV shows like The Morning Show, and Big Little Lies. 

Adam Sandler - Happy Madison Productions

Adam Sandler movies are not for everyone, but wow, do they make him a lot of money through his company, Happy Madison. Though the two films it's named after Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison were not his productions, almost everything he's been in since 2000 is, and it continues to make a ton of money for the actor. The company has even dabbled in TV, most notably with The Goldbergs.

Drew Barrymore - Flower Films

Drew Barrymore's company, Flower Films, has produced or co-produced a ton of movies since she founded it in 1999. With movies like Donnie Darko, 50 First Dates, Fever Pitch, and the Charlie's Angels franchise, it is safe to assume Barrymore has made a pretty penny. Of course, it also produces her daytime talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Queen Latifah - Flavor Unit Entertainment

Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment started out producing movies with moderate budgets that she starred in, like The Cookout and Beauty Shop, but these days, it's been successful on TV with her show, The Equalizer.

George Clooney - Smokehouse Pictures

Smokehouse Pictures is the second company founded by George Clooney after he shut down Section Eight Productions in 2006. Most movies he's starred in or directed since 2008 have been produced under the Smokehouse banner, including Leatherheads, Monuments Men, and The Boys In The Boat, plus other projects like Ocean's 8 and Argo.

Sandra Bullock - Fortus Films

Sandra Bullock may not be acting as much these days, but her production company, Fortus Films, is still humming along. Through the company, Bullock has produced movies like Miss Congeniality and its sequel, Two Weeks Notice, and The Lost City.

Courteney Cox - Coquette Productions

Friends star Courteney Cox and her ex-husband David Arquette started Coquette Productions together in 2004. The business relationship continued after the couple split six years later, though they haven't actually produced much in recent years. 

Brad Pitt - Plan B Entertainment

Plan B Entertainment was started by Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and producer Brad Grey in 2001. In 2004, Pitt and Grey bought Aniston out in the midst of her split from Pitt. Since then, the company has gone on to major success, with three of its movies, The Departed, 12 Years a Slave and Moonlight all winning Best Picture Oscars, with seven others receiving nominations for the award. 

Sterling K. Brown - Indian Meadows Productions

This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown named his production Indian Meadows Productions after the name of the neighborhood he grew up in outside St. Louis. Though it's just getting started, there are some interesting things on the way as Brown's star continues to shine brightly. 

Margot Robbie - LuckyChap Productions

Margot Robbie may have gotten snubbed at the 2024 Oscars for Barbie, but you can be sure she wasn't snubbed out of money as one of the producers of the hit movie. Robbie's company, LuckyChap Productions, has also produced movies Robbie starred in like I, Tonya and Birds of Prey as well as other projects she didn't star in like Saltburn and Promising Young Woman.

Leonardo DiCaprio - Appian Way Productions

Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions produced two Oscar-winners with The Aviator (which won five) and The Revenant (which won three, including Best Actor for DiCaprio). Through the company, DiCaprio not only produced feature films, but documentaries, as well. 

Nicole Kidman - Blossom Films

While Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films has dabbled in movies, most notably the 2011 rom-com Monte Carlo with Selena Gomez, it has found its biggest successes on the small screen. With shows like Big Little Lies, The Undoing, Nine Perfect Strangers, and 2024's Expats. 

Michael Douglas

Further Films, founded by Michael Douglas, doesn't have the portfolio that others may have on this list, as they seem to have found a niche in thrillers and suspense films like Swimfan, Don't Say a Word, 2017's Flatliners, and the streaming show Ratched.

Natalie Portman - Handsomecharlie Films

Natalie Portman named her company, Handsomecharlie Films, after her beloved dog, and she's put together a nice run of movies. She's produced many of her own projects, like No Strings Attached and Jane Got a Gun, as well as a surprise that she didn't star in, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 

Eddie Murphy - Eddie Murphy Productions

Eddie Murphy started betting on himself early in his career through Eddie Murphy Productions and it has paid off, big time. Starting with Raw in 1987, the company has produced some huge movies for the legendary comedian, including Coming To America, Harlem Nights, Boomarang, The Nutty Professor, and Norbit. 

Barbra Streisand - Barwood Films

Barbra Streisand has produced many of her own projects through her company, Barwood Films. 1976's A Star Is Born, The Prince Of Tides, and Yentl are a few of the examples of her biggest successes. Barwood has also dabbled in TV movies, like the groundbreaking What Makes a Family in 2001, about a lesbian couple having a child together. 

Alec Baldwin - El Dorado Pictures

Alec Baldwin's El Dorado Pictures has been in the news a lot in recent years due to its connection to Rust and the tragic events that occurred on set. Baldwin has produced quite a few of his own projects through the company over the years and even got into the TV game show space with the revival of Match Game, which he also hosted. 

Tina Fey - Little Stranger

Tina Fey has one of the sharpest wits in Hollywood, so it's no surprise she would use those same brains to produce. From critically acclaimed movies like 2024's Mean Girls to wildly successful TV shows including 30 Rock and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Fey, and her company Little Stranger, continue to crush it. 

Laurence Fishburne - Cinema Gypsy Productions

The biggest success Laurence Fishburne and his company Cinema Gypsy Productions has seen thus far is the sitcom black-ish, but he's also produced some great movies of his own that have flown under the radar, but are worth checking out, in Five Fingers and Akeelah and the Bee.

Jodie Foster - Egg Pictures

It's no surprise that an actor and director like Jodie Foster, who has been in show business for basically all of her life, would be a producer as well. Through her Egg Pictures production company, she produced many of her own projects, starting with Nell in 1994 and Home for the Holidays in 1995. She closed the company in 2002 when she decided that producing wasn't for her. 

Clint Eastwood - Malpaso Films

Without question, one of the most successful companies on this list is Malpaso Films, founded by Clint Eastwood. It has served as the production company for almost all of the films Eastwood has directed and its history stretches back to the mid-1960s. Many of his classic films, including Unforgiven, The Bridges of Madison County, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz, Million Dollar Baby, Sully, and many more have all been produced or co-produced by Malpaso. 

Halle Berry - 606 Films

Halle Berry's 606 Films has an interesting origin story. Though it was formed as part of her deal to star in Extant, the name has an important meaning. She named it after CA Senate Bill 606, a law intended to protect celebrities' children from the paparazzi.

It was an important issue for Berry, and when the company was formed, her partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, said, "606 Films is named for the anti-paparazzi bill, Senate Bill 606, which Halle fought so hard for and won, when no one believed it could be achieved. It truly informs the spirit of our company — making dreams possible, one bill at a time."

Mel Gibson - Icon Productions

Mel Gibson is not the most universally loved man in Hollywood, to be sure, but he's often bet on himself with his Icon Films, and more times than not, it's worked. Since 1989, he's financed many of his own projects completely through Icon, making movies like Hacksaw Ridge, The Passion of the Christ, and We Were Soldiers, plus co-producing maybe his most iconic movie, Braveheart. 

Salma Hayek - Ventanarosa Productions

Ventanarosa Productions, founded by Salma Hayek in 1999 has most often focused on Latin-centric projects, including Hayek's own Frida and the hit TV show, Ugly Betty. Ventanarosa also works throughout Latin America, producing Spanish-language films and TV. 

Will Smith - Overbrook Entertainment

Will Smith grew up in the West Philly neighborhood of Overbrook, which he took for the name of his production company as well, Overbrook Entertainment. Through it, Smith has produced many of his own projects, starting with Ali in 2001. King Richard, for which he infamously won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2022, was also produced by Overbrook. On the small screen, the Netflix hit Cobra Kai is an Overbrook production, as well. 

Amy Poehler - Paper Kite Productions

Amy Poehler's Paper Kite Production has dabbled in movies, but most of its success has been on TV and streaming. With shows like Russian Doll, and Broad City, you can see that Poehler likes sticking with what she knows, comedy. You might be surprised, though, that the company has also found success with reality TV and even feature length documentaries.

Danny DeVito - Jersey Films

Danny DeVito is obviously proud of his New Jersey roots, naming his production company Jersey Films. He also has to be proud of the output from the company with films like Pulp Fiction and Get Shorty. He's found a lot of success on TV too, with Reno 911! Another of Jersey's films, Erin Brockovich, was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2001.

Charlize Theron - Denver And Delilah Productions

Denver and Delilah Productions' first film was Monster, starring the company's founder, Charlize Theron. That seems to have inspired a bit of a theme, as the company has produced other serial killer-related projects, like Netflix's show Mindhunters, and the HBO docuseries Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York. There are also a few non-serial killer films, like Bombshell, Atomic Blonde, and Murder Mystery.

Will Ferrell - Gary Sanchez Productions

Before Adam McKay and Will Ferrell had their falling out in 2019 and dissolved Gary Sanchez Productions, the company had been wildly successful, releasing some of the funniest movies and shows over the last couple of decades. Step Brothers, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Daddy's Home, Eastbound & Down, and Drunk History are just a few examples. Add to that a little HBO show called Succession, which has won just a few Emmys, and wow, what a success story. 

As this list shows, success as an actor often leads to success in production as well, so actors will continue to open up their own shops, and will continue to crush it, for sure. 

Considering just how hard it is to make in show business, it's remarkable how many celebrities have been good friends with other successful celebrities since before either was famous. Some going back to childhood. Here's our list of celebrities that have been friends for longer than they've been famous. 

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

It’s probably the most famous friendship in Hollywood. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon grew up together in Cambridge, MA, and they’ve pretty much been besties ever since. They were even uncredited extras together in Field Of Dreams and both found early roles in School Ties together. Of course, in 1997 when they wrote and starred in Good Will Hunting together, their collective fame blew up. 

Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones

Another set of long-time friends are former Vice President Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones. They were roommates when they attended Harvard together. At the 2000 Democratic National Convention when the party nominated Gore to be its candidate for President, Jones said in a speech,

Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams were both taken from the world when they were too young. The two have more in common than tragedy though. Reeve and Williams forged a lifelong friendship after meeting as graduate students at Juilliard and rooming together while in school. Reeve even credited Williams with showing him that life would go on after a horse riding accident left him paralyzed. 

Madonna and Debi Mazar

Entourage star Debi Mazar and global superstar Madonna have been friends since the early ‘80s when they met in the hipster scene of the East Village and the dance clubs of New York City. They stayed friends since that time and Mazar has had Madonna’s back when internet trolls take shots at the pop music legend. Mazar also appeared in a number of Madonna’s early videos, like “Papa Don’t Preach.”

Ving Rhames and Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci and Ving Rhames were roommates as undergrads at SUNY Purchase. Tucci even gave Rhames his nickname, Ving, which is short for Erving. Rhames let the world in on that tidbit when he presented Tucci with a Golden Globe in 1998 for Tucci’s role in Winchell. The two have only worked on the same project together once though, 1995’s Kiss of Death. 

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler and Tiny Fey first met at the improv school Improv Olympic (now known as iO Theater) in the early ‘90s when they were both just starting out. In the years since, they’ve stayed friends and worked together a lot, including on SNL and hosting the Golden Globe Awards together. 

Brad Pitt and Sheryl Crow

Brad Pitt and Sheryl Crow have known each other since college. Pitt was a year behind Crow at the University of Missouri and according to Crow, they didn’t know each other well, but they did cross paths a lot, She worked with his fraternity during Greek Week and she was friends with his college girlfriend. She also jokes on the podcast that she dreamed she would marry Brad Pitt. 

Rick Moranis and Geddy Lee

Geddy Lee was the bass player and lead singer of Rush, one of the most popular bands of the last 50 years. Weirdly, his biggest hit wasn’t with Rush but was a song called “Take Off” that appeared on a Doug and Bob McKenzie album. He sang on the track because he’s been lifelong friends with Rick Moranis, who played Doug McKenzie. The two went to grade school together. 

Lauryn Hill and Zach Braff

Lauryn Hill attended Zach Braff’s bar mitzvah. You read that right. Braff told a story to Seth Meyers (whom Braff has known since college) about his bar mitzvah being “musical theater themed” and his partner in the games the kids played was none other than Ms. Lauryn Hill, who went to high school with Braff. 

Holly Hunter and Frances McDormand

Holly Hunter and Frances McDormand first met years before they both found success in Hollywood. They even roomed together in the Bronx. While they were roommates, McDormand met Joel Coen, of the Coen Brothers, and they started dating. Eventually, they would marry and Joel and Ethan Coen would cast both McDormand and Hunter in Raising Arizona, one of many roles the Coens have cast McDormand in. 

B.J. Novak and John Krasinski

B.J. Novak and John Krasinski were in the same class in high school at Newtown South High outside Boston. They were friends long before they both starred in The Office, though in high school, according to Novak, Krasinski was more of a jock, while Novak was a theater kid. Obviously, both ended up wildly successful as actors. 

Gwyneth Paltrow and Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph and Gwyneth Paltrow have been friends for years. Rudolph’s father, Richard, was best friends with Paltrow’s father, Bruce, and Maya and Gwyneth attended the same school, St. Augustine by the Sea School in Santa Monica.

Adam Sandler and director Judd Apatow famously shared an apartment in Los Angeles when they were both just starting out in the industry. When Sandler landed his gig with SNL and moved to New York, he continued to pay rent on the place because he was worried he’d immediately get fired from the show. He didn’t and the rest is history. 

Lisa Kudrow and Conan O'Brien

Conan O’Brien met Lisa Kudrow in 1985 when he moved to LA out of college and decided to take an improv class. According to O’Brien, he walked into the class on his first day and immediately identified Kudrow as someone that was going somewhere. 

Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson 

Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson first met in their sophomore year at the University of Texas. Both were in a playwriting seminar and Anderson immediately was intrigued by Wilson. They have stayed close over the years and Wilson is a regular player in Anderson’s films, starring in eight of them. 

Danny DeVito and Micheal Douglas

Starting way back in 1975 Danny DeVito and Micheal Douglas have been working together. Douglas produced One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest which DeVito had a supporting role in. The two have been friends for much longer, going all the way back to 1967 when they met on beach and immediately bonded. 

Cameron Diaz and Snoop Dogg

This might be the most surprising on the list. Cameron Diaz and Snoop Dogg went to Long Beach High School together. They've known each other since they were teenagers and, according to Diaz.

Brad Pitt and Jason Priestley

Before they were stars, Brad Pitt and Jason Priestley, as roommates, apparently would have contests to see who could go the longest without showering or shaving. Somehow, they were both still really, really good looking despite this. 

Laura Linney and Brooke Shields

Star of The Blue Lagoon, Brooke Shields, and star of You Can Count on Me, Laura Linney, have been counting on each other since they were children. Brooke Shields celebrated Laura Linney's 56th birthday in 2020 by posting a throwback of the two when they were just kids. 

Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance

Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett got married in 1997, which was well after both had become successful. Their friendship, however, goes much further back. They met at Yale Drama School in the '80s, though both were dating other people at the time. They would reconnect years later and they've been together ever since. 

Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton

Way before they found fame together on The Simple Life, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton were friends. According to Hilton on the show, they've been best friends since they were two years old. In September 2023, Hilton celebrated Richie's birthday by posting a bunch of photos of them through the years, from childhood to the present. 

The Great Gatsby was not the first time Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire worked together. They appeared together in This Boy's Life back in 1993. Their friendship, however, goes back even further having met early on when they were both struggling to land their first roles and auditioning for the same parts. They are still close friends. 

Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts

Technically Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts were already working actors when they met on the set of Flirting back in 1991. Neither were famous yet, and the fellow Aussies became fast friends, and have stayed very close ever since. 

Adam Levine and Jonah Hill

Adam Levine and Jonah Hill have been friends since childhood. They've often joked about each other in interviews and really seem to have a close bond. They are so close that Jonah Hill even officiated Levine's wedding in 2016. 

Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson have a lot in common, starting with all of their parents being famous themselves. They also both grew up in Los Angeles and attended the same high school together, Crossroads School for Arts & Science, where they first became buddies. They starred in Dr. T & the Women together in 2000 and are still very close friends

Jamie Dornan And Andrew Garfield

Jamie Dornan And Andrew Garfield have been mates for almost 20 years. The two were roommates in the early days of their careers, running in a pack with the likes of Charlie Cox, Robert Pattinson, and Eddie Redmayne as they struggled to land auditions. It's safe to say they've all done pretty well since then. 

Timothée Chalamet and Ansel Elgort

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City is one of the most prestigious arts high schools in the country. It's no surprise that it has its fair share of famous former students. Two of those are Timothée Chalamet and Ansel Elgort, who were in the same class and have been best friends since attending. 

Scarlett Johansson and Jack Antonoff

Like so many others on this list, actor Scarlett Johansson and musician Jack Antonoff attended high school together. What makes them different is that they even briefly dated and went to the prom together at New York City's Professional Children’s School. They broke up after graduation, but they'll always have prom! 

Mel Gibson and Geoffrey Rush

The country of Australia is not all Mel Gibson and Geoffrey Rush have in common, When both were starving artists trying to make it early on, they shared an apartment that, according to Gibson, didn't have any furniture. A few decades later it's safe to assume both have plenty of places to sleep and sit down after all their success. 

Kristen Bell and Matthew Morrison

Kristen Bell attended the prestigious New York University's Tisch School of the Arts alongside Glee star Matthew Morrison. They were friends in college, and as Bell told Us Weekly in 2010, the two briefly dated. She told the magazine, 

David Lynch and Peter Wolf

In what might be the oddest pairing on this list, director David Lynch and musician Peter Wolf were once roommates at School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in the 1960s. Wolf, who is famous for being the lead singer of the great J. Geils Band told The New York Times that the living situation didn't last long, as he was way too messy for Lynch. 

Kirsten Gillibrand and Connie Britton

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of Massachusetts and actor Connie Britton first met on a study-abroad trip to China while both were in college at Dartmouth. The pair have remained friends in the decades since and often post about each other on social media and of course, Britton endorsed Gillibrand when she first ran for the senate.

Actors, musicians, politicians, roommates, childhood friends, and starving artists. Each pair on this list have unique stories, that are somehow also very similar. They say birds of a feather flock together and this list of celebrities who were friends before they were famous seems to prove that point over and over.  

Though Hollywood A-listers make more money for one movie that some of us will see in a lifetime, there are times where even some of the highest grossing actors of all time didn’t make as much as you'd think. Over the years, stars like Robert Downey Jr., Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt have brought in massive paydays for acting and producing, but those same stars have also seen incredibly small paychecks for one reason or another.

If you’ve ever wanted to know about 33 actors who made way less than you’d think for a beloved movie, look no further…

Robert Downey Jr. Made $500,000 For Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. was the first major star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and would be a staple of the Infinity Saga for more than a decade. During this time, he made a ton of money for his superhero performances. However, he only took home a comparatively small payday of $500,000 for 2008’s Iron Man, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Bill Murray Made $9,000 For Rushmore

Bill Murray is one of the most beloved actors of all time and a frequent collaborator of Wes Anderson’s ever since the release of Rushmore back in 1998. That fruitful partnership started out modestly for the SNL alum, as he was paid $9,000 for his take on Herman Blume, per Vulture.

Gal Gadot Made $300,000 For Wonder Woman

When Gal Gadot first signed on to portray Diana Prince in the DCEU back in 2014, Variety reported that the Fast & Furious star would take on a salary of $300,000 per movie, including Wonder Woman, which was released three years later.

Julia Roberts Made $300,000 For Pretty Woman

Though she had some success at the box office prior to its release, Julia Roberts turned into a massive star thanks to 1990’s Pretty Woman and one of the most well-known A-listers on the planet. However, Roberts, who would go on to earn a ton of cash for movies like Erin Brockovich years later, reportedly received a modest sum of $300,000 for her role in the all-time great romantic comedy, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hilary Swank Made $3,000 For Boys Don’t Cry

Hilary Swank won her first Oscar and became one of the most talked about actresses thanks to her transformative portrayal of Brandon Teena in Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don’t Cry. When appearing on Women’s Dinner Party years later, Swank revealed she was paid $3,000 for the role, which wasn’t enough to qualify for health insurance.

Tom Hanks Made $50,000 For Toy Story

Tom Hanks, who won two Academy Awards prior to the 1995 release of Toy Story, was reportedly paid $50,000 to provide the voice of Woody in the landmark Pixar film, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the same article, the publication reported that Hanks made $5 million upfront for its 1999 sequel.

Oprah Winfrey Made $35,000 For The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple back in 1985. The media mogul, who is worth billions today, later told Essence she was paid $35,000 for portrayal of Sofia.

Robin Williams Made $75,000 For Aladdin

Aladdin will forever be remembered as one of the best Robin Williams movies, and rightfully so. And while the late actor provided countless hours of incredible lines for his co-starring performance, he only made $75,000 for his troubles, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jamie Lee Curtis Made $8,000 For Halloween

John Carpenter’s Halloween, one of the best horror movies, turned Jamie Lee Curtis into a scream queen almost overnight. However, the Academy Award winner later told People Magazine that she only made $8,000 for her portrayal of Laurie Strode.

Nick Castle Made $25/Day For Halloween

Nick Castle has played Michael Myers a total of five times over the years, with the most recent being 2022’s Halloween Ends. Though the role made him a horror icon, Castle told Vanity Fair he was only paid $25 for each day of shooting in the original back in 1978.

Matthew McConaughey Made Less Than $200,000 For Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, a role that ushered in a new era of his career. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was paid less than $200,000 upfront for the movie9 but did receive an undisclosed amount on the backend.

Chris Evans Made $300,000 For Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans was a driving force for the first few phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was paid handsomely for his efforts later on. However, when he was cast to play Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, he reportedly only made $300,000, per The Guardian.

Jeff Daniels Made $50,000 For Dumb And Dumber

Jeff Daniels, who was mostly known for his dramatic roles at the time, was cast to appear alongside Jim Carrey in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber despite New Line Cinema wanting someone else. Years later, the directors told The Hollywood Reporter that the studio low-balled him with an offer of $50,000, thinking he’d say no. You know the rest.

Taraji P. Henson Made $150,000 For The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Taraji P. Henson received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a performance that netted her a great deal of screen time. However, as she later told Variety, she was only paid $150,000 for the gig, which was several hundred thousand dollars less than her initial request of $500,000.

Jonah Hill Made $60,000 For The Wolf Of Wall Street 

Jonah Hill was paid $60,000 for his portrayal of Donnie Azoff in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. While that may seem small considering the size of his role, Hill later told Howard Stern (via BBC) that he immediately took the offer, adding that he would have sold his house and given all his money to work with the acclaimed director. 

Orlando Bloom Made $175,000 For The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy 

Orlando Bloom was an instrumental part of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with his character, Legolas, being featured heavily throughout all three movies. During a 2023 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, the actor revealed he was paid a total of $175,000 for the entire project.

Jon Heder Initially Made $1,000 For Napoleon Dynamite 

Napoleon Dynamite pretty much came out of nowhere and took the world by storm in 2004, partly because its star, Jon Heder. A few years after the film’s release, Heder told Stuff Magazine that he initially made $1,000 from the movie but was later able to negotiate his deal after MTV picked up distribution.

Daisy Ridley Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Daisy Ridley was a relatively unknown actress when she was cast in one of the lead roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which might explain her low salary for the 2015 blockbuster. According to Variety, that number was reportedly between $100,000 and $300,000.

John Boyega Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

John Boyega’s Finn was one of the most heavily featured characters in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the young actor reportedly only received a payday somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000, per Variety.

James Earl Jones Made $7,000 For Star Wars

James Earl Jones’ dynamic voice gave Darth Vader a menacing edge in George Lucas' 1977 film Star Wars (and the rest of the franchise), but did you know that he was only paid $7,000 for the first movie? When speaking with the American Film Institute, the legendary actor admitted that he thought that was good money at the time.

Mel Gibson Made $9,000 For Mad Max 

After appearing in Mad Max, Mel Gibson would go on to lead some of the best action movies of all time, but back when he was cast in the late ‘70s, he was a broke college student. That’s why, as he told ExperienceWith.com, his $9,000 salary for George Miller’s dystopian thriller seemed like a fortune.

Seann William Scott Made $8,000 For American Pie 

American Pie was one of the biggest movies of the ‘90s, and Seann William Scott’s Stifler was its breakout character. So, how much did the young actor make for his career-defining role? Well, as he told The Rich Eisen Show in 2023, he was paid $8,000, most of which he spent on a used Thunderbird.

Christian Bale Made The Minimum Salary For American Psycho 

Christian Bale’s take on the unhinged Patrick Bateman in 2000’s American Psycho is one of the actor’s most unforgettable performances, but it could very well be one of his smallest paydays. Though he didn’t reveal the exact number in a 2022 GQ profile, the actor did say it was the “absolute minimum they were illegally allowed” to pay him.

Michelle Williams Made $625,000 For All The Money In The World 

Michelle Williams was reportedly only paid $625,000 for her portrayal of Gail Harris in Ridley Scott’s 2017 biographical crime thriller All the Money in the World, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though this is a hefty fee, her co-star, Mark Wahlberg, was reported to have taken home $5 million for his role.

Barkhad Abdi Made $65,000 For Captain Phillips 

Barkhad Abdi became an overnight sensation following the release of Captain Phillips, in which he plays lead pirate Abduwali Muse. According to the New Yorker, Abdi’s acting debut and Oscar-nominated performance earned him $65,000.

Jennifer Lopez Made $0 For Hustlers 

Jennifer Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Hustlers, a movie she made for free. During a GQ breakdown of her biggest career moments, the multi-talented star said she starred in and produced the movie for no upfront money, as she was investing in herself. However, it wasn’t disclosed as to how much she made on the backend of the film’s release, which was $157.6 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Gunnar Hansen Made $800 For Texas Chain Saw Massacre 

Gunnar Hansen’s Leatherface is an instantly recognizable horror villain thanks to his mask made of human flesh and signature chainsaw. But did you know that the actor was only paid a three-digit sum for his performance in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? In 2013, the actor told Fast Company that he made $800 for his part in the iconic ‘70s horror movie.

Dustin Hoffman Made $20,000 For The Graduate 

The Graduate was the movie that turned Dustin Hoffman into a young Hollywood star, but it was also one that didn’t earn him a whole lot of money. According to a 1968 New York Times article, Hoffman reportedly made $20,000 for his career-defining role, but he only ended up keeping $4,000 of that after expenses and taxes were taken out.

John Candy Made $414 For His Home Alone Cameo 

The late John Candy appears in Home Alone for only a few minutes, but it’s still wild to think that his cameo only netted the actor $414. In the Home Alone episode of Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us, it is revealed that Candy’s unforgettable portrayal of Gus Polinski, the Polka King of the Midwest, didn’t necessarily break the bank.

Jessica Chastain Made $1.75 Million For The Martian 

Jessica Chastain’s paycheck for The Martian was shockingly low. Around the time of the film’s 2015 release, there was a report that the actress made $7 million from her part, but she told The Huffington Post that she actually made around a quarter of that, which would be around $1.75 million. The film’s star, Matt Damon, reportedly made between $15 and 25 million for his part.

Brad Pitt Made $6,000 For Thelma And Louise 

Brad Pitt is one of the biggest and highest paid actors around today and has been that way for the better part of the past 30 years. However, that wasn’t always the case. According to the Daily Mail, the actor was paid just $6,000 for his breakout performance as JD in Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise.

Jon Voight Made The ‘Minimum’ Salary For Midnight Cowboy 

Jon Voight received all kinds of nominations for his performance in Midnight Cowboy, but the actor was paid the “minimum” for his portrayal of Joe Buck. When disclosing this to The Guardian decades later, Voight also revealed he received a $14.73 charge for meals on the final day of the shoot.

Adam Levine Made $0 For Begin Again 

Maroon 5 frontman and former coach on The Voice Adam Levine appeared in John Carney’s 2014 musical dramedy, Begin Again for free. When speaking with USA Today around the time of the film’s release, Levine explained that he did the movie “for no money,” stating that he had made enough through his other ventures and wanted the experience.

It’s safe to say that all of these actors have done okay for themselves over the years after making relatively small salaries throughout their career. But it’s still wild to think about Robert Downey Jr. only making half-a-million to play Tony Stark. What a steal.

Of all of Mel Gibson’s famous roles, none is probably as recognizable as Mad Max. And yet, with Mad Max: Fury Road, the baton for the character was seemingly passed from Gibson to Tom Hardy. However, there are probably a lot of people who would love to see Gibson return, and while that possibility may have existed in the past, Gibson himself believes that too much time has gone by.

Speaking with the New Indian Express, Gibson, who just had his most high-profile role in years in the John Wick spinoff series The Continental, was asked if there was any chance he might play Mad Max again. While the actor said that there had been conversations with director George Miller about that possibility, the actor believes he’s officially too old to play Mad Max. Gibson said…

There was a time, years before Mad Max: Fury Road actually happened, when Gibson and Miller had apparently talked about doing another Mad Max movie. It’s unclear if Gibson is talking about a conversation from years ago or something more recent, but either way, it seems Gibson feels too much time has passed so making a new Mad Max doesn’t make sense.

At this point, it seems that when and if George Miller makes another Mad Max movie at all, it’s still going to be many more years away. Lately, Miller has been at work on the Furiosa, the prequel spinoff to Fury Road. It has been in development basically since the last movie came out, and a Furiosa release date is currently set for next May. If Mel Gibson is too old to play Max now, that’s certainly going to be the case in a few years when another movie in the franchise might happen. 

Miller himself had previously said that bringing Mel Gibson back after recasting the role with Tom Hardy, even if he played a different role, would pull people out of the movie, so he indicated that seeing Gibson return in any sort of cameo was off the table.  

But who knows, at this point, it's far from clear we'll actually see Tom Hardy as Max after a single outing. While George Miller has previously said he had ideas for other Mad Max projects, a lot has happened since then. Maybe some sort of an “Old Mad Max”-style project, starring Gibson as an older Max who has somehow survived the wasteland into old age, is an idea that could spark interest.  For many, Mel Gibson will always be Max, and that means there’s an audience that would likely pay money to see him be Max again. 

How do you pick just one of the ‘80s movies for the biggest movie stars of the decade? It’s a challenging task, but we figure we’re up for the job. So if you find yourself only able to watch a single '80s film starring each of these icons, here’s the only list you’ll need. 

Tom Cruise - Top Gun

This one is obvious, right? Top Gun is the movie that made Tom Cruise a superstar and his career has never wavered since. It was such a cultural phenomenon at the time that not only did it make an astounding $357 million at the box office (against a $15 million budget), it became the best-selling VHS tape of all time, based on pre-orders alone! Everyone saw it that summer, and again when it was released on home video. He revived the franchise 36 years later and dominated at the box office again with Top Gun: Maverick. 

Steve Martin - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Steve Martin had a string of hits in the 1980s, but his best of the bunch was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It’s a perfect example of how varied Martin’s comedy could be. At times refined, at others completely physical and off the wall. Martin puts everything into this performance and it shows in the results. It’s just a brilliantly hilarious film. 

Whoopi Goldberg - Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Whoopi Goldberg burst onto the big screen in The Color Purple (more on that film in a minute). Her performance was lauded by critics, with Roger Ebert calling it “one of the most amazing debut performances in movie history.” It’s certainly a film worth watching for her Oscar-nominated performance, but if you really want to get a great idea of what Goldberg was all about in the ‘80s, check out  Jumpin’ Jack Flash. Goldberg is, after all, a comedian at heart, and she brings all her comedic skill to bare in this early tech/spy thriller. It’s another A+ performance from the star of The View.

Goldie Hawn - Overboard

Goldie Hawn was already a veteran in show business by the time the ‘80s started, but she saved some of her best performances for the decade. In her final movie of the decade, she teamed up with Kurt Russell for Overboard, and the chemistry between the two is right there on the screen for all to see. Both actors are amazing, and Hawn truly is one of America’s sweethearts. 

Morgan Freeman - Lean On Me

By 1989, Morgan Freeman had been steadily working in Hollywood for more than two decades, but it was that year that his career jumped to superstar levels. He starred in 4 films in the final year of the decade, including Driving Miss Daisy and Glory. Those two films garnered 14 Oscar nominations between them, including a Best Actor nod for Freeman. It was a third film though, Lean On Me that really lit the screen on fire. Based on the true story of a principal named Joe Clark who is charged with cleaning up a Paterson, NJ school. Freeman’s performance is powerful and set the stage for all that came after it in his career. 

Demi Moore - About Last Night

One of the actors to emerge out of the 1980s “Brat Pack,” Demi Moore forged a career that lasted well into the ‘90s and beyond, with some of her finest work coming in her first few films. One of those, About Last Night, holds up incredibly well. It’s a unique take on the rom-com and is at times much more serious than so many others from this era, due in large part to the grittier story it was adapted from (David Mamet’s play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago) and Moore’s excellent performance alongside Rob Lowe.  

Harrison Ford - Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Sure, there are a few movies that would fit here for Harrison Ford, like that one about the space wars or whatever it’s called. But for pure, distilled Ford, nothing beats Indiana Jones and nothing beats the OG Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s Ford at his very best: snarky, charming, witty, and tough. No Nazi is safe with Indy after them. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey’s rise to all-powerful media queen began in the ‘80s and a very big piece of that was her acting performance in 1985’s The Color Purple. She was nominated for an Oscar in her film debut and almost four decades later, the film’s powerful message of overcoming abuse still resonates with audiences. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, though it shockingly didn’t win any, which is a shame. 

Chevy Chase - Fletch

Like Harrison Ford, you could go in a lot of directions with Chevy Chase, but, like Raiders, you need to go with the purest form of Chase and for that, there is nothing better than the original Fletch. He's at his sarcastic best as Irwin Fletcher. No one can quite be as charmingly condescending as peak Chase and no one is spared here. Order up a couple of steak sandwiches and some caviar; Fletch just hit a water buffalo.

Meryl Streep - Out Of Africa

In the 10 Academy Awards shows of the ‘80s, Meryl Streep was nominated seven times. She won her first (and only of the decade) for 1982’s Sophie’s Choice, but let’s get real, as amazing as she is in it, no one really wants to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch that one. Instead, consider a performance just as good, but slightly more upbeat (only slightly, though). Out of Africa is beautiful, as are Streep and Robert Redford in the lead roles, and the tragic story comes to life like magic with her performance. 

Geena Davis - Beetlejuice

Geena Davis made steady progress in her career in the early ‘80s but really found a new level in Beetlejuice. Her on-screen partnership with Alec Baldwin as two ghosts frustrated with the people living in their house is excellent, as they more or less play the “straight man” to Micheal Keaton’s titular character. It’s not an easy gig, but Davis is amazing. 

Jackie Chan - Police Story

Jackie Chan didn’t break big in the United States until the ‘90s and by then he was the biggest action star in Hong Kong. It was 1985’s Police Story that solidified his spot at the top and if you’ve never seen it, you definitely need to. While Chan has always been an amazing stuntman, it’s Police Story that brings all his skills to the forefront, from amazing fight scenes to the epic opening car chase with Chan hanging onto a bus with an umbrella as he pursues the baddies. It’s one of the most insane stunts in Chan’s history of insane stunts. 

Kathleen Turner - Romancing The Stone

Romancing the Stone is one of the great comedies of the 1980s and features some amazing performances from Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito, but Kathleen Turner’s Joan Wilder takes the cake. Or the bail of pot, as the case may be here. Walking that line between an intrepid explorer looking for her kidnapped sister and a damsel in distress, Turner shines. Her chemistry with Douglas and DeVito is so good, they made two more films together, the sequel Jewel of the Nile and the unrelated The War of the Roses, but it’s Stone that remains the best. 

Michael Douglas - Wall Street

Michael Douglas is great as Jack in Romancing The Stone, but it’s his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street that makes for one of the greatest movie villains in cinema history. Of course, he won an Oscar for the performance, but it’s how quotable the movie and his character are that makes it one of the best of all time, even if those quoting don’t always understand the heavy-handed irony in each line. 

Edward James Olmos - Stand And Deliver

With Stand And Deliver, director Ramón Menéndez told the true story of math teacher Jaime Escalante who sought to raise the level of education single-handily in an East LA high school by daring to teach underprivileged Hispanic kids calculus. Edward James Olmos plays Escalante brilliantly, earning himself an Oscar nomination in the process. 

Tom Hanks - Big

Tom Hanks grew up with Big, literally and figuratively. It marks the point in his career when he jumped from a wild and wacky comedian to an actor who can take on any role, no matter how serious, and make it his own. There are the wilder moments, but there is also a real vulnerability to the man-child Josh Baskin that Hanks makes so authentic for the audience. It’s no wonder it earned him his first Oscar nomination. 

Daryl Hannah - Splash

Another Hanks movie also happens to be the great Daryl Hannah’s finest performance. Before Ariel, there was Madison, the mermaid who longed to walk on the land with humans and falls in love with an average Joe. Hannah’s performance magically convinces audiences that it’s exactly what a fish out of water would be like. 

Mel Gibson - Lethal Weapon

Back before Mel Gibson was a lightening rod for controversy, he played some pretty amazing roles and none more so that Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon series. From the very first scene, audiences see that classic “Mel Gibson Crazy Eyes” face and it sets the tone for the movie and the franchise, one that had remarkable life to it. That first scene is also why Lethal Weapon should be in the conversation for the best Christmas movie, alongside Die Hard. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger - The Terminator

The decade wouldn't be as big and as over the top as it was without Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrian bodybuilder took the movie world by storm and there are any number of enjoyable performances, but if you're looking at 1980s movies, you have to choose The Terminator. It launched him to superstardom, and it kicked off a franchise of Terminator movies that's lasted for decades. Sure, he only has a handful of lines, but no one could top his performance as a relentless killing machine that we all somehow fell in love with… later. 

Sylvester Stallone - First Blood

Not only did First Blood launch one of the most enduring franchises of the era, but it’s also just a really good film. It could be argued that it’s Sylvester Stallone’s best. His performance as a down-and-out Vietnam vet highlighted the plight of returning soldiers from that war. Brian Dennehy plays the antagonist perfectly as the angry sheriff that doesn’t take kindly to strangers in his town. A+. 

Michelle Pfeiffer - Scarface

Scarface really hasn’t aged all that well. Sure, the memes are fantastic, but as a film, it feels as dated as neon green headbands and electric typewriters. The lone exception is Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance. It’s still great, and made her one of the biggest stars of the 1980s. 

Molly Ringwald - Sixteen Candles

Molly Ringwald was once called John Hughes’ muse and it’s easy to see why she became such a mainstay in many of his hit movies from the era. Sixteen Candles is truly one of the funniest movies of the ‘80s, in part because of the side characters, but mostly it’s due to Ringwald’s fantastic performance as the girl the family forgot. 

Denzel Washington - Glory

Denzel Washington was nominated for his first Oscar for 1987’s Cry Freedom, but he won his first for 1989’s Glory. The cool thing about Glory is that it’s actually one of his most powerful performances, as audiences didn’t know him as DENZEL yet. The movie follows one of the few Black companies fighting for the Union during the Civil War and tells a story that had sort of been forgotten in the public consciousness at the time. The success of Glory and of Washington’s performance, especially in the scene where he is whipped, is one of the reasons that story will never be forgotten again. 

Jodie Foster - The Accused

The Accused is not an easy movie to watch. It begins with one of the most brutal rape scenes in cinema history and follows Jodie Foster’s character, Sarah Tobias, on the quest to get justice. The subject matter was so intense, the role was reportedly turned down by a number of A-listers at the time. It was fortuitous for Foster, who had struggled to re-ignite her career after attending Yale. Her performance won her an Oscar and the rest is history. 

Sally Field - Steel Magnolias

There are great Sally Field movies in every decade since she jumped from TV to the big screen in the mid-70s. For the ‘80s, you can’t go wrong with Steel Magnolias. It may be a tad melodramatic at times, but it stays grounded with the acting by Field and other stars like Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and Shirley MacLaine. 

Bill Murray - Ghostbusters

Bill Murray had so many great movies in the 1980s, it’s difficult to pick just one, but in the end, you have to go with Ghostbusters. His turn as Peter Venkman is so funny, so quotable, and so lovable, that without him, it would be a completely different movie. John Belushi in the role was the original plan, but after his death, Murray ended up in the role, and now we can’t imagine it any other way. 

Robin Williams - Good Morning Vietnam

Good Morning Vietnam was an important movie in Robin Williams' stellar career. It was the movie that truly showed audiences just how great his acting chops were. He was no longer just the frenetic comedian running around the stage inspiring laughs. Williams showed his dramatic side, especially after the bomb went off in his favorite cafe. Of course, there is plenty of off-the-wall zaniness from him that we all love, which makes it one of his most well-rounded performances. 

Glenn Close - Fatal Attraction

There are few more quintessential scenes from the 1980s than the boiling bunny in Fatal Attraction. Glenn Close’s performance as the unpredictable, jilted lover is just as iconic. Like the bunny in the pot, her character comes to a slow boil, getting more and more intense as the movie moves along. It’s a masterclass in acting from the legend. 

Micheal J. Fox - Back To The Future

No way we were going to leave Michael J. Fox off this list. Between Family Ties, and Teen Wolf, there is no actor that defines the decade quite like him. Of course, it’s no surprise that the essential movie for any Fox fan is the great Back to the Future. It’s a movie that has been introduced to, and loved by, countless people from Generation X and the following generations. It’s beloved by all. 

Jane Fonda - 9 To 5

Jane Fonda, like Sally Field, has decades of outstanding movies and performances, but when she teamed up with Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin to make 9 to 5, she became an icon to a whole new generation. It’s been more than forty years since its release, but the chemistry between Fonda and Tomlin remains, as they proved last year with Moving On.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

Last, but certainly not least, we have one of the biggest breakout stars of the 1980s, Eddie Murphy. Like others, it’s hard to decide on just one, but in the end, it simply has to be Coming To America. It’s the quintessential Murphy film filled with memorable quotes and amazing performances from the entire cast, especially Murphy. 

This list could go on and on. The 1980s were a magical decade in theaters and crafting exhaustive list would prove to be impossible. Luckily, you can find the best ‘80s movies, and even '80s movies that don't get enough love if you need more. 

When it comes to acting, Mel Gibson hasn’t been far from the cinematic realm, with his recent moves including Fatman, Boss Level and On the Line. Directing-wise though, he hasn’t helmed a movie since Hacksaw Ridge, which ended up resonating with audiences for a specific reason. Today, however, brings word that Gibson has finally found his directorial follow-up to the 2016 Andrew Garfield-led movie, and Mark Wahlberg is involved.

With these two having been seen together last year in Father Stu (which was met with mixed reception from critics), Gibson and Wahlberg are now teaming together on Flight Risk, which will see the former playing a pilot transporting a dangerous criminal for trial. It’s unclear if Gibson will also appear on screen or limit his work to solely behind the cameras. Lionsgate acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Flight Risk, and Joe Drake, the chair for the studio’s Motion Picture Group, said the following about this partnership in an official statement:

This just the latest Mel Gibson-related movie that Lionsgate is handling, with others including 2021’s Dangerous and last year’s Hot Seat. Mark Wahlberg also has ties to the studio from Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day, both of which were released in 2016. Lionsgate will launch Flight Risk at the Cannes Film Festival next week, and Davis Entertainment will produce alongside Gibson and Bruce Davey through their Icon Productions. Alex Lebovici of Hammerstone Studios is also executive producing, as well as financing the project.

Flight Risk will be Gibson’s sixth time directing a movie, as along with the aforementioned Hacksaw Ridge, he also helmed The Man Without a Face, Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto. It’ll be a while until we learn when Flight Risk comes out and who will be joining Walhberg in the cast, but these two have other projects coming relatively soon. Gibson will be seen this fall The Continental, the prequel event series part of Lionsgate’s John Wick franchise that’ll be released to Peacock subscribers, and he has Boys of Summer coming out at a TBA date. Meanwhile, Wahlberg’s upcoming movies include Arthur the King, Our Man from Jersey, The Family Plan and The Union, the latter of which he recently finished shooting with Halle Berry.

If you’re now in the mood to watch Hacksaw Ridge after learning that Mel Gibson will tackle Flight Risk with Mark Wahlberg, it can be streamed with a Hulu subscription. Those of you with your eyes still looking to the future should scan through the 2023 new movie releases that are on the way.

The legal proceedings continues for Harvey Weinstein, as the disgraced Hollywood producer is facing sexual assault allegations made by five different women. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges and, right now, he’s in the midst of the juror selection process for the case. A hearing was held at the end of this past week, and it resulted in a number of notable developments. However, what’s seemingly grabbed most people’s attention is the fact that Mel Gibson has now been roped into Weinstein’s legal drama. 

According to Variety, a judge ruled this past Friday that Mel Gibson can testify on behalf of Jane Doe 3 during Harvey Weinstein’s upcoming rape trial. The unnamed woman claims that the former movie mogul sexually assaulted her at his hotel in 2010. It’s said that the purported assault occurred after she gave Weinstein a message. Apparently, Gibson is a friend of the woman, and she detailed the alleged incident to him after it occurred. 

The lawyer of the ex-Weinstein Company head argued against having the potential Lethal Weapon 5 star testify. The attorney, Mark Werksman, argued that the Oscar winner has been engaged in a few of sorts with the former movie producer for years now. Werksman alleges that this stems from a dispute over The Passion of the Christ. The lawyer also argued that the actor, who has had his own share of controversies, is now trying to “rehabilitate” his image in the aftermath of the #MeToo Movement. 

Additionally, Mark Werksman requested that the defense be allowed to question Mel Gibson about racist and antisemitic statements he’s made in the past. The judge ultimately shot down that request. Jane Doe 3’s lawyer questioned why such a thing would be necessary, and Werksman argued: 

Should Mel Gibson appear in court, his testimony could have major ramifications on the case. Essentially, if he corroborates Jane Doe 3’s story, it could possibly lead to another setback for Harvey Weinstein. The reportedly ailing Weinstein is not only embroiled in this case but is also seeking to appeal his 2020 sexual assault conviction. As a result of that ruling, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. That same year, Weinstein’s victims were granted a major settlement, and he was also dealt another blow when Ashley Judd won a legal battle against him.

The public will likely be watching closely to see whether Mel Gibson will take the stand. In the meantime, Harvey Weinstein’s case is set to resume this coming Monday, and jury panel dismissals will be covered.

As we’re currently seeing in the world of James Bond movies, the road to casting the next 007 isn’t always smooth. Plenty of candidates tend to come into and fly out of frame, leaving tons of possible “what if” scenarios to discuss over time, long after a winner has been selected. Thanks to some recent remarks, another long-past piece of Bond history has come back into frame. This time it's all about Mel Gibson, and how Sean Connery was part of the reason he passed on playing Ian Fleming’s literary super spy. 

While promoting his latest film Bandit, Mel Gibson spoke with JoBlo about how he had the opportunity to step into 007’s legendary tuxedo. The world already knew that Gibson was previously considered for the role of James Bond, so that’s not really the shock here. Rather, as you’re about to read, the surprise was the reason that the Mad Max actor turned the part down: 

Strangely enough, this recent explanation varies from what Mel Gibson has said in the past. As one of the actors who almost played James Bond, previous interviews have seen Gibson state that he just wasn’t that interested in fighting for queen and country on the big screen. However, that tune has changed a bit it seems, with the eventual co-lead of the Lethal Weapon franchise looking at Sean Connery’s post-Bond career as a cautionary tale of sorts.

Making that point absurdly clear, the director of such films as Hacksaw Ridge further fleshed out his point of view. Adding some more historical context of where Sean Connery’s career was in the mid to late ‘80s, the Braveheart alum's choice seemed to include these factors as well:

At the time this offer seems to have been made, it looks like Peter Weir and Mel Gibson were hard at work making the 1981 film Gallipoli. With that time frame in mind, that means we could have seen him starting his hypothetical tenure, more than likely, with 1983’s Octopussy. This was the same movie that saw James Brolin cast as 007, as Roger Moore wasn’t under your typical long-haul Bond contract, and the hunt was supposedly on. 

Thinking back to that very story, it’s probably a good thing that the Oscar winner didn’t have his heart set on becoming James Bond. Just when the Roger Moore era of 007 looked like it was coming to an end, the actor returned for two more installments, leaving Brolin in the cold as he was about to move to London. 

While it may have looked like passing up a golden opportunity in its time, Mel Gibson’s rejection of the Bond mantle saved him some heartbreak. Then free for the iconic roles he’d eventually make his own, it wouldn't be long before he'd make his mark on the history of action spectacles. Eventually, both Lethal Weapon and Mad Max would become his signature franchises. All of which may not have happened, had he chosen to take on the role of 007.

History shook out the way that it did, and it’s part of why we can tell you that if you’re a Mel Gibson fan, you can catch his latest movie Bandit in theaters and on VOD. Should all of this James Bond talk inspire a need to go back to the classic adventures, or even Daniel Craig’s swan song No Time To Die, a good number of those movies are currently streaming. The only catch is, you’ll need a Prime Video subscription to really take advantage of such offerings.

In Father Stu, star Mark Walhberg tackles the story of boxer-turned-priest Stuart Long, who went from destruction to redemption, inspiring many along the way. Based on true events, this faith-based film carries an R-rating, which is pretty atypical for movies of the genre. The cast members themselves pushed back against the sometimes-polarizing label, saying it’s a different kind of religious movie. Well, critics have screened the film, and the reviews are in to give us an idea of what to expect from Walhberg’s Father Stu. 

Rosalind Ross makes her directorial debut with the film, which also stars Mel Gibson as Stu’s father; Jacki Weaver as his mother Kathleen; and Teresa Ruiz as Carmen, the Sunday school teacher whom Stu is determined to win over. Mark Walhberg had to go through a “really difficult” transformation for the role, so let’s take a look at what the critics are saying about the final product. 

Carlos Aguilar of The Wrap says both Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson seem to be chasing on-screen rehabilitation for off-screen misdeeds, and although he calls the movie "above average" for its genre, he says the script includes some outdated lines and scenes that border on homophobia:

Carla Hay of Culture Mix does not agree the film is above average, genre not withstanding. She writes that the corny dialogue and cringe-worthy scenarios make this based-on-a-true-story flick look like a phony. She says it's not worth the price of a movie ticket:

Vince Mancini of Uproxx scores Father Stu a C-, calling it a two-hour, full-on hard sell for Catholicism. He says the movie portrays an utterly unconvincing adversarial worldview:

Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter says the movie succeeds in not being sanctimonious, but it's also not quite as compelling as they might have wanted. He says despite some R-rated language, Father Stu seems bland and perfunctory, and its script is rushed and unconvincing. While the actors do their job, this critic says viewers will not be converted:

Owen Gleiberman of Variety says the movie goes further into religious feeling than you expect, but wishes the drama were less sketchy. Mark Wahlberg gives a fine performance, according to Gleiberman, but the father-son relationship between him and Mel Gibson never really hits the mark: 

The critics seem unsure about this movie, but if you want to check it out for yourself, Father Stu will make its theatrical premiere on Wednesday, April 13. Also be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to start planning your next movie night!

Many are still debating the slap situation that occurred between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars a little over a week ago. Plenty of viewers have sounded off on the matter via social media, but a number of high-profile stars have dropped thoughts as well. Mel Gibson recently became one of the latest to be asked his opinion on the polarizing topic. However, once that happened, the interview was immediately halted.

Mel Gibson appeared on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime to promote his latest film, Father Stu. After posing a series of questions about the upcoming movie, Watters asked Gibson what he would’ve done had he been in Will Smith’s shoes. The actor seemed to cringe upon hearing the query and seemed to shake his palm in order to wave off the question. At that point, an off-camera voice chimed in to indicate that the chat was over. Check it out for yourself in the Twitter clip down below: 

It’s clear that the Oscar winner, who has also been the subject of Hollywood chatter in the past, isn’t interested in getting in on the massive discussion. Let’s be honest, it’s totally fair that he wouldn’t want to weigh in. Still, it’s hard to deny the awkward nature of his on-air decision to plead the fifth. 

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards after the comedian made a joke regarding Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock quipped that he was looking forward to seeing the Red Table Talk host star in G.I. Jane 2, a reference to Pinkett Smith having a shaved head amid her bout with alopecia. In the week following the altercation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences initiated disciplinary action against Smith. The Gemini Man star also formally apologized to Rock, who declined to press charges, and eventually announced his resignation from the Academy.

When it comes to celebrity reactions to the moment, Jim Carrey was among those to condemn the actor’s actions. Carrey also stated that he was “sickened” when the King Richard star received a standing ovation later in the night when he won his Oscar. Zoë Kravitz also called out the star in a recent Instagram post. Meanwhile, ceremony co-host Wanda Sykes thought it was “gross” for the Fresh Prince alum to be allowed to remain at the show and accept the Academy Award for Best Actor. 

However, Denzel Washington, who pulled Will Smith aside shortly after the incident, seemed to offer support for him. When Washington opened up about the incident, he asserted that “the devil” seemingly got a hold of the situation and pondered whether it was fair for the public to condemn Smith. 

Other actors have taken a page out of Mel Gibson’s book and chosen not to share their two cents, though. Daniel Radcliffe, for example, was asked to share thoughts during a recent interview, and the actor provided an honest response. Radcliffe declared that he was “already dramatically bored of hearing people’s opinions” on it and did not “want to be another opinion adding to it.”

The discourse surrounding “slapgate” doesn’t appear to be slowing down, so it’s probably safe to assume that other stars will be asked their opinions in the near future. Though it’s hard to say if they’ll provide a response or opt out of answering like Mel Gibson did.

The John Wick franchise is wildly popular in the movie space, and there’s obviously a hope it’ll have the same success in the television world. The Continental is coming to Peacock to tell the story of the hotel chain catering to assassins decades before the events of the movies unfolded. It sounds like an exciting premise so far, and it’s backed up by an equally exciting cast. 

Along with The Continental bringing in some familiar characters central to the John Wick franchise, though not with the same actors we’ve seen in the films, there are also plenty of newcomers joining the action. Here’s a look at who’s appearing so far (Keanu Reeves won’t be joining), who they’re playing, and what to expect from them in this exciting project that will see two of its three 90-minute episodes directed by Albert Hughes. 

Colin Woodell

Colin Woodell joins The Continental as an actor who's familiar with television shows of franchises that started on the big screen. He played Rick Betancourt in Season 1 of USA’s The Purge, and also had a role in HBO Max’s much-talked-about series The Flight Attendant. Now he’ll step into the shoes of one of John Wick’s most notable characters not named after the movie, Winston Scott. 

Winston Scott, portrayed by Ian McShane in the movies, is the future owner of The Continental’s New York location, which is featured heavily in the John Wick film series. His loyalty to the code of assassins is unwavering, or at least that’s what we’re led to assume. This prequel series will show how Winston rose to prominence in a world of assassins, and likely explain how he came to own one of the most iconic meeting places for contract killers in the world. 

Ayomide Adegun

The Continental will see some fresh blood from the acting world join the Peacock series, as The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate Ayomide Adegun makes his acting debut. Adegun got one of the greatest roles to play in the John Wick franchise, as he’ll step into the role of one of the franchise’s most cryptic characters, Charon. 

Charon (played by actor Lance Reddick, who is pictured above) is the concierge at the New York Continental hotel. He’s the guy getting things done for the patrons of the hotel, and occasionally, when the situation calls for it, he gets his hands dirty. It’s clear that Charon is skilled with weapons and combat, but fans know next to nothing about his character. The Continental is a perfect opportunity to pull back the curtain on him and give fans some answers on his origins.

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson’s inclusion in The Continental was a shock to many people, particularly because he doesn’t do a lot of television. So it’s safe to say his casting wasn’t something on a lot of people’s radars, but considering the man's action resume, the John Wick franchise feels like a good fit for him. Gibson enters The Continental as Cormac. Cormac appears to be running the New York Continental at this point in and time and calls Winston to his office to give him a chance to save his brother Frankie before calling the rest of the hotel to go after him. 

Peter Greene

Noted film and television actor Peter Greene comes into The Continental as one of the weirder characters of John Wick. Greene steps into the role of Uncle Charlie, another person we've already met in the film series. In John Wick, “Charlie” is a resident cleaner for assassins in the movie universe. Charlie is good at cleaning up bodies and appears to be a neutral person that’s willing to offer his services to any assassin willing to give him one gold coin per body. He’s never been anything less than pleasant in the movies, so I expect the same will apply in the Peacock series. 

Katie McGrath

Supergirl actress Katie McGrath enters The Continental playing someone holding a position first introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum, The Adjudicator. Played by Asia Kate Dillon in the movie, The Adjudicator acts as a representative of The High Table. They're the one who ensures the masters of this organization’s will is done, and they doesn’t tolerate nonsense. It'll be interesting to see how McGrath's version of The Adjudicator differs from the one we previously met. 

Jeremy Bobb

Jeremy Bobb comes into The Continental as Mayhew, an original character to the series. Bobb’s past roles include notable shows like The Outsider, Jessica Jones, and Russian Doll. As far as his role in the Peacock series, we don’t know anything about Mayhew. The trailer shows him snapping pictures, however, so maybe he's someone on the outside trying to expose the true purpose of The Continental. 

Mark Musashi

Mark Musashi is an actor most known for his stunt work and is a trained martial artist. He’s worked on Fear The Walking Dead and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and now he’s bringing his talents to The Continental. He’ll play a High Table assassin alongside his partner Gretel, which seems to be a clear reference to the classic fairy tale brother and sister duo. 

Marina Mazepa

Marina Mazepa has television experience, but perhaps not in the way that some might expect. She’s performed as a contortionist on America’s Got Talent, where she was a quarterfinalist in Season 14. Now she’s in The Continental as Gretel, a High Table assassin who works with Hansel. Between her contortion abilities and his martial arts, I’m expecting these two to be an interesting pair to watch. 

Ray McKinnon 

Sons of Anarchy and Mayans MC fans likely know Ray McKinnon, who cut his teeth as Lincoln Potter on both shows. Now he’s in The Continental as Jenkins, a new character with not a lot known about him. McKinnon is no strange to rough and tumble shows, so I’m guessing his character might be very much the same when the Peacock series premieres. 

Adam Shapiro

Adam Shapiro, who was most recently seen in the Netflix series Never Have I Ever, enters The Continental as Lemmy. Like the rest of the new characters announced for the show, there’s not a lot said about his character. Based on the trailer, however, it does appear he'll align with Winston in his adventure, and be an ally throughout the series. 

Hubert Point-Du Jour

Hubert Point-Du Jour comes into The Continental in the role of a character called Miles. The actor is most recently known for his roles in shows like Dr. Death, as well as The Good Lord Bird. Based on the trailer, Miles appears to be another ally of Winston in his mission to help his brother and is often in close proximity to Lou. 

Jessica Allain 

The Continental welcomes Jessica Allain, who may be a lesser-known actress now, but she’s got some big projects on the way. She’ll be playing Lou in the Peacock series, but audiences will also see her in the upcoming Netflix version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Lou is seen in the trailer aligning with Winston in his fight against The Continental, but her motivations for doing so at this time are unknown. 

Mishel Prada 

Mishel Prada enters The Continental as the character KD, who is new to the series. Though the character is new, Prada is no stranger to television. She's had stints on the television series Vida, and appeared as Hermosa Lodge in The CW's drama series Riverdale. 

Nhung Kate 

Nhung Kate is an actress from Vietnam who will join The Continental in the role of Yen. In addition to her roles in films like The Housemaid, she's also an amateur MMA fighter. Yen also appears to be an ally of Winston in the series, and it seems she has a bone to pick with Gretel based on their fight. 

Ben Robson 

Ben Robson is a name that fans of Vikings and TNT's Animal Kingdom should know well enough. He's now set to appear in The Continental, where he'll portray Frankie. As revealed in the trailer, Frankie is the brother of Winston and apparently landed himself in a lot of trouble after taking something of high value to Cormac. It seems he'll be what leads Winston into this world in the first place, but whether or not either of them knows what they're getting into remains to be seen. 

The Continental is reportedly set to arrive on September 22nd for anyone with a Peacock subscription. It’s one of many new shows expected this year, and yet another adaptation of a film franchise that may further blur the lines between genres. 

Whoopi Goldberg has dominated headlines since the beginning of the month, after making controversial, on-air statements on The View. During the show’s January 31st episode, the actress and TV personality stated that the anti-semitism present during the Holocaust was not comparable to racism. The host would later apologize and receive a two-week suspension from ABC. Since then, a number of people have chimed in on the situation, with the latest being Scandal alum Joshua Malina. The actor defended Goldberg and, while doing so, he contrasted her situation with Mel Gibson’s past controversies.

Though Whoopi Goldberg has received much backlash for her comments, Joshua Malina, who played David Rosen during Scandal's seven-season run, does not seem to believe that it’s completely warranted. He made it clear that he would not put the actress as Mel Gibson, who has come under fire for making anti-semetic remarks in the past. And Malina didn’t mince words while discussing what he sees as the differences in Goldberg and Gibson’s situations:

Mel Gibson, who is indeed reportedly set to star in Lethal Weapon 5, has been involved several controversies regarding anti-semitism over the course of his career. The most high-profile incident took place in 2006 when a LAPD officer stated that the actor shouted a remark at him during an arrest. Gibson purportedly said that “the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” The Braveheart actor later apologized to the officer and issued a statement in which he expressed his regrets. While speaking with Page Six, Joshua Malina doubled down on his belief that Whoopi Goldberg’s thoughts are not similar to Gibson’s:

Since the Oscar winner’s suspension from The View, notable people like Gina Carano have spoken out on the development. The Mandalorian alum recalled her own Holocaust-related sentiments, which led to her removal from Lucasfilm, and seemed to offer up a suggestion regarding how Whoopi Goldberg could handle her own situation. Goldberg’s former co-panelist, Meghan McCain, also chimed in, saying that she was not calling for her former colleague to be fired. She did, however, double down on her belief that there’s a double standard when it comes to the talk show’s liberal and conservative-leaning pundits.

ABC has yet to announce further information regarding Whoopi Goldberg’s future with the network, as of this writing. Presently, she is serving out the remainder of her suspension. 

The View airs weekdays at 11 p.m. ET on ABC.

Netflix has been really digging into the sequel business in the past couple of years. The streaming platform has been building out its own original franchises, while also resurrecting classics like Aardman Animation’s comedy caper Chicken Run for another go. Almost two years since the announcement of that project, we now have a properly egg-cellent title for Chicken Run 2, as well as news on who is replacing Mel Gibson in the role of Rocky! 

In a brand new press release straight from Netflix, this follow-up has been titled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, with animated voice veteran/Shazam himself Zachary Levi taking up the role of the fun loving rooster. Playing the role of Ginger, which was also set to be recast in this new adventure, is none other than Westworld’s Thandiwe Newton. It’s amazing casting for this story of what happens right after that daring escape from Mrs. Tweedy’s clutches, and Ms. Newton isn’t the only HBO alum that’s on board for this already in production animated spectacular.

Game of Thrones fans will be pleased to see that actors David Bradley and Bella Ramsey will be stepping into the Chicken Run legacy in their own ways. Bradley, who’s already on the Netflix lot with his former Thrones showrunners, will be voicing Fowler, the veteran rooster in the Tweedy’s farm gang from the original film. Meanwhile, Ms. Ramsey is embodying the new character of Ginger and Rocky’s daughter Molly, who has just been hatched as a new threat dawns on all of chicken-kind. Here’s the story so far on what Ginger, Rocky, and the entire gang are up against this time out:

While the official logline for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is playing it coy with the details that are included, this new plot kind of feels easy to decode. It sounds like the concept of chicken nugget is about to take hold in this fictitious universe, with Ginger and Rocky having to break back into Mrs. Tweedy's farm; presumably to free a whole new group of chickens in line for the slaughter. Should this be confirmed, does this mean a potential three-quel is going to focus on thwarting chicken tender production? 

This is just another chapter in the successful partnership between Netflix and Aardman Animation. Joining forces to continue the Shaun the Sheep franchise through sequels and the most recent special, the studio partners have already been building a foundation for fans to flock to in previous years. Citing another holiday effort, the short musical Robin Robin, these titans are absolutely correct in the assumption that continuing to work together is just common sense. But as you may have guessed, there's going to be a bit of a wait involved before we see the results. 

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is scheduled to debut on Netflix at some point in 2023. For all of the new movies slated for release on the platform in the year to come, head over to the 2022 Netflix film schedule for further details. Aardman Animation fans who aren’t afraid of a little residual holiday cheer can currently watch Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas and Robin Robin, both of which are streaming on Netflix.

On July 5, 2021, director Richard Donner passed away, leaving behind a body of work stretching back to the late 1950s. With his death came a cloud of uncertainty concerning Lethal Weapon 5, as Donner had intended to direct what’s expected to be the final outing of Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs and Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh. Well, evidently Gibson himself is being lined up to inherit the directorial reins on this long-gestating project.

Mel Gibson said as much over the weekend while appearing at an Experience With… event in London (via The Sun). According to Gibson, Richard Donner requested that he take over directing Lethal Weapon 5 should he die. As the actor put it:

It’s since been reported by various outlets that Mel Gibson is in talks to direct and star in Lethal Weapon 5. So while this isn’t a done deal just yet, the pieces are being moved into places for Gibson to sit in the director’s chair, on top of reprising Martin Riggs. Deadline also mentioned in its writeup that rather than be a theatrical-exclusive release like its four predecessors, Lethal Weapon 5 is being developed specifically for HBO Max.

This move makes sense beyond the fact that Mel Gibson has been part of the Lethal Weapon film series since the beginning, so he knows this property inside and out. He’s also assembled an impressive list of directing credits over the decades, from The Man Without a Face and Braveheart to Apocalypto and Hacksaw Ridge. Factoring those two key factors, it’s hard to envision a scenario where Gibson doesn’t land the Lethal Weapon 5 directing gig. This news also arrives a month after it was announced that Gibson will star in the John Wick spinoff TV series The Continental.

It’s been 23 years since Lethal Weapon 4 played in theaters, and initially both Mel Gibson and Danny Glover were reportedly not interested in making another sequel. However, by 2017 (at which point the Lethal Weapon reboot TV series was already airing), Gibson revealed that he, Glover and Richard Donner had discussed reuniting for another movie, but by the following year, things had stalled. At the time, Donner said Lethal Weapon 5 would officially be titled Lethal Finale and go darker than the previous movies, but it was being held up by Warner Bros. By 2020 though, Lethal Weapon 5’s prospects had improved, with producer Dan Lin saying the project was in active development and Gibson confirming that Donner was still on board to direct.

Alas, we’ll never see the Richard-Donner helmed Lethal Weapon 5, and it’s also unclear if the movie will still be called Lethal Finale and retain those darker plot elements. In any case, we’ll keep you on how Lethal Weapon 5 is coming along as more updates come in. For now, you can watch Mel Gibson starring alongside Scott Eastwood, Tyrese Gibson and Famke Janssen in Dangerous, which is in theaters and on-demand.

Starz’s John Wick prequel series The Continental is still in the works, though it appears it’s that much closer to a premiere date with the casting of its first lead actor. In what some see as a surprising and possibly polarizing choice, the action series announced that Lethal Weapon and Fatman star Mel Gibson has been cast for the hotel-set action-adventure. 

Mel Gibson will play a character by the name of Cormac, though that’s all Deadline reported about the 65-year-old actor’s role. The Continental takes place in New York in 1975 and follows a younger version of the character played by Ian McShane in the John Wick films, Winston Scott. The series, which will premiere as a three-night special television event for Starz, will tell the origin of the franchise's Continental hotel, which serves as a safe haven for assassins in New York City and plays a major part in the John Wick story. 

The Continental’s casting of Mel Gibson could be seen as controversial to some because the actor has been accused multiple times over the years of making anti-Semitic and racist remarks, most of which the actor has since apologized for. Despite that, the actor’s fall from grace lessened his presence in Hollywood substantially, which makes it something of a surprise any time he resurfaces in high-profile projects. This is especially true for The Continental, as Gibson is traditionally known as a film actor and director, with his main chunk of TV acting happening in Australia 40 years ago.

Though his television contributions are few and far between, Mel Gibson’s casting does fall in line with a trend that’s seen more traditional film actors make their way to television in recent years. This is seemingly more true in works based on popular film franchises, though it should be noted Mel Gibson had no prior ties to John Wick before his casting. Gibson does remain a name closely associated with the action genre, however, so it’s not as though the casting is completely out of left field.

One question about Mel Gibson's casting could be whether his role in The Continental will lead to an eventual appearance in the film franchise. Though the actor's age and the series' setting in the mid-1970s presumably rule out the possibility of the character living to the present-day storyline of the movies, there certainly is a possibility for Gibson's inclusion in John Wick 4 or another project via a flashback sequence or something else of that nature. Given Gibson is an actor most known for film work, it's undoubtedly worth speculating if future film appearances serve as partial justification behind casting him as Cormac. We can only continue to wait to see, while wondering how fans will respond to the decision. 

CinemaBlend will keep an eye out for updates on Starz’s The Continental, including some information on when to finally expect it. For more on the franchise in the meantime, be sure to read up on who’s appearing in John Wick 4, if only to see who John gets to kill next. 

George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road was one of the most popular movies of 2015, that not only took the box office by storm but won several Oscars along the way. While many loved being able to see Mad Max on the big screen once again, it was Charlize Theron's Furiosa that drew the most attention. So it's to little surprise that when George Miller returns to the post-apocalyptic wasteland again very soon, it will be with a prequel film about her, rather than the next story about Max. The main male character this time around will be played by Chris Hemsworth, in a role we know very little about.

There are very few details about the Mad Max prequel called Furiosa, other than the fact that the role originated by Charlize Theron will be played by Anya Taylor-Joy and that Chris Hemsworth will also appear in an undisclosed role. Speaking at a press conference (via Australia's ABC.Net), Hemsworth was tight-lipped on details, though he did admit to being a massive fan of the franchise. Being Australian, the Mad Max franchise, was a major influence on his own desire to be an actor. Perhaps that's why Hemsworth says that he might actually give the original Mad Max, Mel Gibson, a call to get some advice.

Exactly what sort of advice Chris Hemsworth would be looking for from Mel Gibson we don't really know, as we don't know anything about the character he's playing. Still, Mel Gibson certainly knows George Miller's post-apocalypse better than anybody other than Miller himself, so I'm sure the former Mad Max would have some interesting perspectives.

It's also possible that, while we don't expect Max Rockatansky to appear in the film at all since he and Furiosa first met in Mad Max: Fury Road, it's still possible that the new movie could be more directly connected to the main franchise in some way. Furiosa is set prior to Fury Road as an origin story for the title character. And while the exact chronology of the four films in the current franchise is nebulous at best, we could certainly see Max's actions in one movie have an impact on Furiosa, even if the characters in the new film don't know it.

In addition to Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, we know that Yahya Abdul Mateen II will also be part of the cast, though again, the exact role has not been revealed. It seems more than likely, however, that one of these men will be a significant ally to the young Furiosa, and the other will be the film's primary antagonist.

Production for Furiosa is set to take place in New South Wales, Australia, and is set to be the biggest movie production the region has ever seen. Interestingly, part of the new movie is set to be filmed in an area called Broken Hill, where Mad Max: Fury Road was set to be filmed. Unfortunately, unusual rainfall in the area made the region too green, and so production was moved to Africa.

There was once a time when Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Jason Statham and a lot of other badasses gathered to make blockbuster action movies together. Much as The Avengers became the franchise for those who liked to bond over comic book action, The Expendables allowed folks to bro out to action stars of the past and present. And as you’ll see in the throwback footage shared by Stallone himself, those days must have been a hell of a time.

Clearly missing the days of The Expendables series, Sylvester Stallone shared a fun video from the set of The Expendables 3 on his Instagram. It’s pretty jam-packed with everyone and anyone you could think of who starred in the 2014 entry to this particular series. Which means that yes, you’ll get to see Harrison Ford hanging out with the boys while watching the video included below:

Seriously, how awesome is it to see Sly on set with Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jason Statham?! It’s practically a class photo for The Expendables 3, and everyone looks pretty jazzed to be a part of the moment. Even the sometimes cantankerous Harrison Ford is all smiles; the energy is that infectious.

Of course, the centerpiece of it all is the fact that this throwback to those simpler days reminds us that 2010’s The Expendables was a pretty historic moment in action cinema history. For the first time, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, two titans once engaged in a bit of an historic rivalry, worked together for the fans. With that mythic conflict at an end, the sky was the limit for who they could get to join in, and the two ensuing sequels proved it.

With such great memories comes some bittersweet truth, as The Expendables 3, so far, has proven to be the de facto finale of the franchise. The production itself was beset by all sorts of problems, as a PG-13 rating and an eventually leaked copy of the film were among the reasons some have cited for the third installment’s ultimate disappointment at the box office. As everyone has scattered with their own projects, like Stallone’s Rocky IV director’s cut and Jason Statham’s duties on The Meg franchise, as well as the Fast and Furious spin-off Hobbs and Shaw, it almost feels like The Expendable 4 is dead for good.

Then again, with all of the good vibes that The Expendables 3 gave to those participants captured on film, who’s to say that it couldn’t happen again? Sylvester Stallone knows how to get a band back together when he wants to, and with his plate seemingly free of the Creed series, this could be the next big move for him. Provided, of course, that the supposedly-confirmed Demolition Man sequel doesn’t get off the ground first.

Deepfakes make pretty much any casting possible, if you’ve got the time and the right reference material. Should you want to see Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone starring in Step Brothers, the MCU’s Sebastian Stan as Luke Skywalker, or even just a more improved CGI rendering of Grand Moff Tarkin and Princess Leia in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it’s all out there for the making. And the artist behind those last two examples has done it again, this time replacing Tom Hardy with Mel Gibson in Mad Max: Fury Road.

While co-writer/director George Miller had wanted to make a fourth Mad Max film with Mel Gibson, who originated the character of “Mad” Max Rockatansky, a serious of delays and stumbling blocks prevented the reunion from taking place. But in an alternate universe traversed by YouTube user Shamook, that reunion not only happened, but younger Mel Gibson hitched a ride into Mad Max: Fury Road’s 2015 release to make it so. Watch the finished product below:

The results on display above are impressive, to say the least. The only point that the deepfake effect is really in question is both when the split-screen comparison comes up during this Mad Max: Fury Road remix, and in the final sequence where Max fades away into the crowd. But even in the most questionable angles of this fan-crafted work, there’s a lot of fine work on display. In particular, the blending between Mel Gibson’s facial features and Tom Hardy’s remaining features is less noticeable than, say, the seams in the Schwarzenegger/Stallone Step Brothers video.

Although, the ease of slipping Mel Gibson’s face onto Tom Hardy’s body does speak to just how good of a casting Hardy was in the first place. While he doesn’t mimic his predecessor slavishly, you don’t feel weirded out when watching Gibson’s face mapped onto his movements. It’s a creepy but exciting thing to keep in mind when looking at future deepfakes, as well as looking back on those we’ve previously seen.

As we get closer to the production, and eventual release of Furiosa, the prequel movie delving into the life of Charlize Theron’s Mad Max: Fury Road hero, another opportunity for deepfakery is just glaring at us all from the future. While Theron will not play the younger version of Furiosa, as Anya Taylor-Joy has been cast in the role this time out, that must serve as an invitation to all aspiring digital artists. Come to think of it, there’s probably already an artist that’s scouring through footage from Devil’s Advocate and That Thing You Do to create the next deepfake that instills continuity in the wasteland.

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Dear readers, it’s time for a ho-ho-throwdown. With two brand new Santa adventures in the mix for this holiday season, it’s time for Kurt Russell and Mel Gibson’s versions of the man with the bag to square off. As The Christmas Chronicles 2 and Fatman are aimed at two different audiences, we’ve got two different versions of St. Nick to consider as we head into the yuletide. So naturally, we’re gonna start asking questions about who’d win in a contest, and that’s exactly what we’re getting into today.

Putting these two holiday joy makers through their paces will require five separate criteria: wits, gifts, fists, the Mrs. (Claus), and elves. We’ll go through each of those scenarios, and weigh whether Kurt Russell or Mel Gibson’s Santa excel in that particular area. In the end, the ultimate winner being crowned “The Superior Santa Claus,” with you the audience having a chance to cast your votes on the matter yourselves. But now, the gloves are off, and it’s time to see whether Russell or Gibson is the Superior Santa Claus.

The Battle Of Wits

With The Christmas Chronicles’ Santa, Russell talks a pretty big game, and in a pinch he can bust out a musical number to break himself out of trouble. But as seen in the first Christmas Chronicles movie, he couldn’t talk his way out of trouble, and he ended up getting arrested and thrown in jail. He’s a nice guy, but he has a hard time winning skeptics. Meanwhile, Fatman’s Chris Cringle sees Mel Gibson literally talk a man out of cheating on his wife with a random bartender. And even though he’s fallen short on his quota with the U.S. Government, the deal he negotiated himself was pretty sweet when it was at its best.

Who Wins The Battle Of Wits

While Kurt Russell and Mel Gibson’s Santas wouldn’t have trouble believing in one another, Gibson’s powers of persuasion could potentially beat Russell in a showdown. Not to mention, something tells me that Chris Cringle wouldn’t be won over by a musical number, whether he’s got both eyes or not. Fatman’s Chris wins this round, thanks to some pretty stern talking abilities.

The Battle Of Gifts

If you can’t give gifts worth a candy cane, you’re clearly not meant to be Santa. And both of our competitors have very different operations. In Fatman, Chris Cringle’s setup at the North Pole is very tactile, and absolutely grounded. The elves build toys and parts, and Chris eventually delivers them in his sleigh. Though, for the most part, we only really see some of the building, and none of the deliveries. Meanwhile, The Christmas Chronicles Santa has an amazing workshop that can pretty much build anything. Not to mention, with a crack team of elves, and a TARDIS style magic sack, he can deliver good from the North Pole to anywhere in the world. Also, his sleigh is totally run by wormhole technology, which lets him move through the world in one night; provided he stays on schedule.

Who Wins The Battle Of Gifts

As mentioned in the Battle of Wits, Chris Cringle’s operation has some problems fulfilling its government contract, which leads to some interesting subcontracting at the North Pole. Meanwhile, Santa in The Christmas Chronicles only ever has a problem when someone tries to hijack his operation, or accidentally throws things off just a little. Even in those contexts, Christmas endures, and Kurt Russell’s Santa beats Mel Gibson’s when taking into account the gift situation.

The Battle Of Fists

Talk is cheap, and gifts are relatively easy to make. But in the Battle of Fists, all you’ve got is Jack Johnson and Tom O’Leary to defend you. And this is a pretty damned one-sided fight when you get down to it, as Kurt Russell’s Santa really doesn’t fight. There’s no need for him to scuffle with anyone physically, as he’s a pretty family friendly guy; one of the perils of being The Christmas Chronicles’ PG-rated Santa pinned against an R-rated madman. And boy, is Fatman’s Chris Cringle adept at fighting an armed opponent, as we’ve seen in his battle with assassin Jonathan Miller.

Cringle knows how to use firearms and tactics to outwit his opponents, without question. Plus, even when he did suffer what looked like fatal injuries to his person (i.e. being stabbed through the chest by a leg mounted blade), Chris managed to live with only an eye sacrificed in the process.

Who Wins The Battle Of Fists

If it ever came to fisticuffs between Santa and Chris Cringle, Santa would surely be toast. With no real combat training, and his abilities to talk his way out of the fight more than likely failing, it might be a good idea for The Christmas Chronicles hero to just curl up and play dead. Fatman wins again in this round.

The Battle Of Mrs. (Claus)

To update and old, but familiar phrase, beside every great Santa is a Mrs. Claus able to help him see his way through trouble. Both The Christmas Chronicles and Fatman have fantastic female role models in the way of Mrs. Claus (Goldie Hawn) and Ruth Cringle (Marianne Jean-Baptiste.) And to be fair, this pair of fellow holiday figure heads are pretty similar in skill sets. Both know their way around baking cookies and keeping Santa in line when it comes to the battle of the day. However, while Ruth definitely has the advantage of being handy with a musket pistol, Mrs. Claus has a wide berth of knowledge in various fields of expertise. Plus, she can bake explosive cookies, which would help her evade capture; and could create some chemically infused delights to put anyone at ease, or even to sleep.

Who Wins The Battle Of Mrs. (Claus)

The Christmas Chronicles’ Mrs. Claus is a vital component in the development of the North Pole system, and she’s quite capable at devising countermeasures that can distract. While it’s not likely that Ruth would take up arms against Mrs. Claus, and her opposite number wouldn’t seek to harm her, Mrs. Claus has the slight edge in this battle. Though let’s be honest, they’d both see their husbands fighting, and probably adjourn to swapping stories over cocoa and non-lethal cookies.

The Battle Of Elves

It all comes down to this: the elfish workforce at the two opposing North Pole operations! You could honestly run various scenarios pitting merely the elves of Fatman and The Christmas Chronicles against each other, as the possibilities are endless. But there are some limitations between the work forces of Santa and Chris Cringle, and that’s where the advantage shows one particular side winning the battle, and the war.

Fatman has some pretty grounded elves that use their own two hands, and a sugar enriched metabolism to get the job done when it comes to building their gift load. Meanwhile, The Christmas Chronicles elves are akin to kindly Gremlins, as they can build pretty much anything, and their miniature size and numbers can overwhelm larger opponents. If Chris Cringle had these little Energizer elves in his workshop, Jonathan Miller would have been dispatched a bit easier.

Who Wins The Battle Of Elves

The Christmas Chronicles’ elves win by a landslide. Again, their insane numbers and energy put them at a huge advantage, and even if they were just building gifts, the contest would be an open and shut case. One side can build anything from luxury cars to rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums; while the other is limited in their construction of toys and aircraft parts. And they who has the elves has the war at Christmas.

Who Is The Superior Santa Claus

In a 3-2 decision, verified by the betting firm of Elf Kings, the title of Superior Santa Claus goes to none other than Kurt Russell’s Santa from The Christmas Chronicles. With both of their spouses staying out of the way, in a fight that probably wouldn’t get that intense as Fatman’s Chris Cringle wouldn’t wail on an unarmed, unmatched opponent, Santa would probably neutralize Chris’s operation. The two opponents would then more than likely trade cups of cocoa, and laugh about that time they actually did face off in the 1988 movie Tequila Sunrise. Of course, that’s another story for another day.

So, with all of this holiday combat wrapped up, who do you think would win the battle for Superior Santa Claus bragging rights? Take our poll below, and let us know know know! And if you’re looking for more game tapes to research this matter a bit further, you can watch both of The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix. Meanwhile, Fatman is currently available for purchase/rental on VOD and Digital HD.

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Warning: Spoilers for Fatman are in play. If you don’t want to peek at the presents this film’s plot has to offer, turn back and come back after you’ve seen the movie.

No one could have ever imagined that the world would get a movie where Mel Gibson plays a hardened, combat ready Santa Claus; but we are living in 2020, and it’s been a wild year. But nothing beats the crazy ride that is Fatman, or its rowdy finish, as by time the film ends, the story has fully taken its audience for a rollercoaster ride of action. And the only thing wilder than Fatman’s ending are the events that set up the grand finale. Last chance to avoid spoilers, dear friends, as we’re about to jump into the holiday madness that is Fatman.

What Happens At The End Of Fatman?

During the entirety of Fatman, there’s a continual battle between Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson) and his Christmas spirit. A lot of setbacks and compromises occurred up at the North Pole, but he actually survives it all, and only had to lose an eye in the process. The shady alliance between hired assassin Jonathan Miller (Walton Goggins) and his employer, spoiled rich kid Billy Wenan (Chance Hurstfield,) almost wiped Santa out for good.

But surviving his wounds, he and his wife Ruth (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) are ready to keep the spirit of Christmas alive; and they confront Billy in person to confirm as much. Just as he’s about to kill his grandmother, from whom he’s been embezzling money to pay Jonathan to do his dirty work, Billy is visited by the Cringles and give one, final warning. Should he even step one foot out of line, he’ll get more than a simple lump of coal, because “the Fatman’s got his eye on you.”

That Time Santa Almost Died In Fatman

You really can’t blame Chris Cringle for this change of heart, as Fatman really puts him through the paces. The culmination of those incremental actions is a showdown at the North Pole that sees Walton Goggins’ Jonathan Miller wrecking shop in Santa’s domain. Not only does Jonathan stab Chris several times with a really big blade mounted on his leg, but he blows up a significant portion of the workshop that Chris Cringle uses to get his business done.

When you stab Santa through the chest, and take one of his eyes, that’s going a bit overboard. Fatman truly goes pretty hard when trying to convince us that Chris is truly dead, right down to a moment where Ruth is cradling a supposedly dying Chris in her arms. It pretty much seals the fact that Fatman is the Logan of Santa Claus movies. Of course, this is after Ruth puts a musket ball in Jonathan’s head, as his attempt to hunt and kill Mrs. Cringle ends with a soft “I’m sorry,” and a loud bang. But Chris survives, and he’s ready to get the job done.

Wait, What The Hell Happens In The Rest Of Fatman?

You might still be scratching your head as to what in the name of hot cocoa is going on in Fatman right about now. Even after witnessing it all for yourself, it’s a big adventure to wrap your head around, and we wouldn’t blame you for taking a moment to pause and wonder how it all got to this point. Well, it’s very simple, as Fatman isn’t only about the forces of evil trying to wipe out Santa, it’s also about Chris Cringle trying to make ends meet in an increasingly naughty world.

While part of Fatman’s plot focuses on Billy’s reign of terror, which encompasses torturing a rival who bested him at the school science fair, as well as Jonathan’s quest to collect as many presents from Santa’s workshop as possible, Chris’ life before the big hit wasn’t exactly easy. Falling behind on quotas for present delivery, the US government shorts the money that the Cringle operation is guaranteed in their contract. But they do offer a solution, and Santa becomes a government contractor who builds aircraft parts in his workshop in the off season.

The US Government really wants to make this a permanent fix in Fatman, but Santa’s not biting. But while Chris is agonizing over keeping the lights on, the lump of coal he sent young Billy at Christmas puts into motion a huge game that winds up seeing Walton Goggins facing off against the US Military… and winning! Even Billy’s absent father might be impressed with the measures this little hellion took to fight a vendetta, and potentially kick off a franchise.

How Does Fatman Set Up A Potential Franchise/Sequel

Throughout Fatman we see Chris Cringle changing his ways, an also trying to influence the behaviors of others. Mel Gibson’s Santa knows the bad behaviors of others, and he tries to give people an out in as gentle a way as possible. Chris demonstrates trying to put people on the straight and narrow in one particular scene, where he convinces a man to go home to his loving family, rather than cheat on his wife with a local bartender. It’s a scene of quiet conversation that sees just the right amount of force applied.

However, Fatman’s ending shows us that if you’re really naughty, Santa’s not going to spare you. His patience is running thin, and now that he’s dispatched of a killer who’s taken out an entire cadre of US Military assistance, he just might be in business with the government again, if he so chooses. Only instead of building weapons, he might just become one, as writer/director team Eshom and Ian Nelms hae set the table for a potential Fatman saga that sees Chris Cringle target the uber-naughty throughout the world.

Overall, there’s another story to be told, one where Fatman really questions the motivations of its lead character. Mel Gibson’s “bad ass Santa” is obviously primed for some sweet vengeance in a world he increasingly disapproves of. But the most logical end point would see Chris taking out dictators and rogue agents, only to wind up facing himself in the mirror and wondering where the line between naughty and nice truly lies. At least, that’s one way that this potential world could pan out.

Apologies to those who wandered into Fatman and thought that maybe two co-stars of the neo-noir film Tequila Sunrise would be bringing back the whimsical magic of Christmas movies to the screen. But Mel Gibson’s Santa is a very different beast from Kurt Russell’s more holly jolly co-hort in The Christmas Chronicles series. And as you can see, should the Fatman return, there’s going to be a lot more than coal in some people’s stockings, if they choose the path of the naughty. You can see Fatman for yourself, in limited theatrical release, as well as on VOD and Digital HD; but be warned, it’s not exactly the type of movie you watch during a family dinner.

One of Mel Gibson’s most notable roles is Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon franchise. He played that character through four Lethal Weapon movies, capping things off with Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. Since then, there’s been talk of making a Lethal Weapon 5 and recently Mel Gibson offered up an update on that front.

Since a Lethal Weapon movie hasn’t released in over twenty years, there’s always been a healthy dose of skepticism from fans that a Lethal Weapon 5 would actually happen. Of course, there’s always hope in the air that perhaps Richard Donner, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover will have one last ride. Now, Mel Gibson gave Good Morning America an update when asked if it’s possible there will be a Lethal Weapon 5:

Well, there you have it. There’s still a chance we could get a Lethal Weapon 5 and director Richard Donner is trying to make it happen. So, now it seems to be more a question of when rather than if because time isn’t exactly on their side. This is very exciting news for the generations of fans.

Mel Gibson’s not the only one to confirm Lethal Weapon 5 is happening. Earlier this year producer Dan Lin said they’re actively trying to make it with Richard Donner, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover all coming back for it. But it sounds like the story is what’s holding things up.

Richard Donner himself back in 2018 also hinted that Lethal Weapon 5 was in the works. While featured as a guest on a podcast, Richard Donner’s filmography was being listed off and after Lethal Weapon 4 was read, he said, “And 5 coming up.” We'll just have to wait to see when.

At the time, Richard Donner explained his vision for the film as well. He said it would be called Lethal Finale, would be very dark, and written by Channing Gibson, who wrote Lethal Weapon 4. However, he claimed things were being held up at Warner Bros. and he expressed doubts it would happen at all.

Of course, the prospect of Lethal Weapon 5 happening raises some serious questions and makes us wonder how in the world it would work and what the story would be. After all, Mel Gibson is 64 and Danny Glover is 74. It would be quite a stretch to make us believe they’re still on the force.

At the same time, it’s not out of the question that they could make one last swan song devoted to focusing on Riggs and Murtaugh in their old age, taking on one more bad guy. Whatever they decided, hopefully, we’ll hear more details soon.

As we’ve passed the Halloween season, and are head long into the maw that is the 2020 election, we’re getting closer to the Christmas season. One of the most anticipated movies of this year’s yuletide is Fatman, the action-comedy that sees Mel Gibson playing Santa himself. Only, instead of playing a friendly, Kurt Russell embodiment of the holiday icon, Gibson’s Santa Claus knows his way around a gun and is being hunted by a vicious professional killer. So yeah, we’ve been waiting to hear how critics would react to Fatman, and today we’re ready to open our presents and see what the first reviews are saying!

Starting off with Sean O’Connell’s thoughts, CinemaBlend’s own team player sounded pretty holly jolly about Fatman. Taking to Twitter after seeing the film, Sean had this glowing praise to heap into Mel Gibson’s proverbial sack of gifts:

Annual holiday traditions aren’t easy to forge, as much like trying to make 'fetch' happen, it takes a good amount of skill and effort to land a movie like Fatman into perennial rotation. Of course, this sort of schtick isn’t going to be for everyone, as an action-comedy that dances on the line of parody that Grindhouse made magic out of is equally as hard. Jarrod Walker from FilmInk had a less than ideal experience with the movie, labeling it with the following pan:

Fatman sounds like it’s going to be a divisive holiday offering when it releases into theaters next week, as very little middle ground can be found. Those who don’t like it seem to be dunking on it, while those who do happen to dig it sound almost euphoric. Matthew Pejkovic from Matt’s Movie Reviews is another party that digs this crazy Santa Claus, as his Fatman review tipped its hat not only to Mel Gibson’s performance, but also had some love for one of his co-stars:

If you’re a person who feels like some subversive fun this Christmas season, and you happen to be a fan of Walton Goggins or Mel Gibson, Fatman sounds like it’s going to be an early present. Both men sounds like they’ve had an absolute blast, giving the world that acts more like Rambo and less like Rudolph the Red. Nosed Reindeer. Rounding out our roundup of early critical reactions, podcast Two Peas On A Pod had this to say:

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, Fatman is coming to town pretty soon! This holiday throwdown drops in theaters on November 13, but if you’re looking a home viewing experience, the film will be released to VOD on November 17. And if you’re still in the mood for some new movies debuting through the rest of the year, check out our 2020 release schedule to get the lowdown on your next cinematic adventure!

The second coming is coming. When it might come, though, we don't know. Following the astronomical box office success of 2004's The Passion of the Christ, it seemed like a given that director Mel Gibson would eventually make a follow-up to his biblical drama. Sure enough, in the past few years, we've gotten confirmation from the filmmaker, screenwriter, and lead actor that it'll arrive in the not-too-distant future.

But when it'll arrive wasn't foretold. Well, not explicitly, at least.

Developments haven't been quick, but details have slowly been forthcoming. It might be two whole decades after the release of the original movie before we get The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection, as it's currently titled, but the people involved are clearly passionate about it (no pun intended) and they have lofty ambitions and expectations to boot. But what do you know so far? Let's take a look at the timeline and see.

In 2016, Screenwriter Randall Wallace Announces Passion of the Christ 2

Following the phenomenal success of 2004's The Passion of the Christ, there were some folks wondering if co-writer/director Mel Gibson would ever make a cinematic follow-up to his high-grossing biblical tale. Alas, the filmmaker's deeply troubled personal history eventually overshadowed the astounding profitability of his film, stalling his career for several years until his critical rebound in 2016 with his Best Picture-nominated Hacksaw Ridge.

It was around this point in time that Oscar-nominated screenwriter Randall Wallace, who wrote Mel Gibson's Best Picture-winning Braveheart and also penned and directed 2000's We Were Soldiers, announced that he was working with Gibson on a sequel to his hit religious drama. Details were limited, but he claimed that the story would follow the resurrection of Christ, which makes sense. Following his climatic death in Passion of the Christ, the resurrection was set to follow.

Mel Gibson Hints At The Plot Of The Sequel, Titled Resurrection

A few months later in 2016, during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote Hacksaw Ridge, Mel Gibson confirms Randall Wallace's sequel talk, revealing that the plot of this proposed sequel would follow Jesus Christ's descent into Hell and the otherworldly battles he faced following his crucifixion and leading to his resurrection. Gibson's interest in the sequel was certainly apparent, though he admitted that it would still be "probably three years off." Ultimately, it took Jesus three days to resurrect, but it would take Gibson nearly 20 years before he could depict this transformation. Nevertheless, the filmmaker noted that it was a "big project." Therefore, it would take time to finalize his vision. But there's no doubt that Gibson wants it to happen. The timeline remains fuzzy, but the idea is being formed. Here's what he said on The Late Show:

In 2018, Jim Caviezel Enters Talks To Reprise The Role Of Jesus Christ

Following this informal sequel announcement, one had to wonder, "Will Jim Caviezel come back?" The gap between films will be so extensive that it wouldn't be out-of-the-question to hire a younger actor for this divine role. But like Christ before him, Caviezel will return.

In 2018, it was announced that Jim Caviezel would reprise his role as Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's proposed sequel. Details regarding the project, including its production timeline, remained hazy, but Caviezel's returning involvement made it apparent that the project was still in motion. But it would still take time before cameras rolled. Now 52 years old, the actor will be pretty well into his 50s by the time the project comes together — assuming it does come together anytime in the near future. But his demanding portrayal of Christ in Passion was praised.

Jim Caviezel Claims Passion Of The Christ 2 Will Be ‘The Biggest Movie In History’

Certainly, any expectations for Passion of the Christ 2 must be sky-high. While it garnered mixed reviews, both during and after its release, as well as its fair share of controversy, Mel Gibson's directorial feature became a phenomenal box office hit. For over a decade, it was the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history, which was largely thanks to its returning audience. Released at the beginning of Lent, The Passion of the Christ was an experience, and it appealed to the devout, as well as the folks curious by all the headlines it garnered. Certainly, anticipations would be astronomical for a sequel, even one that's late-in-the-game, and Jim Caviezel has no problem stoking the flames.

In an interview with USA Today, Jim Caviezel set the bar pretty damn high by claiming it'd be "the biggest movie in history." His words:

In September 2020, Jim Caviezel Claims He Got A New Draft Of The Script, Now Titled The Passion Of The Christ: Resurrection

While Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel were doing their part to drum up anticipation for their promised sequel, the conversation became muted in 2019. During this time, whenever Gibson wasn't starring in different movies, he and Randall Wallace were apparently hard at work on the latest drafts of the script, which were sent to Caviezel.

At least, that's what Jim Caviezel said as recently as this September when he appeared on SiriusXM's Breitbart News Daily for his film, Infidel. In this discussion, Caviezel revealed that he got the third draft of the screenplay, which carried the title The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. This claim contradicts another one he reportedly made in March, where he said he received the fifth draft. Nevertheless, it's still moving forward. Here's what Caviezel said:

Are you looking forward to The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection? Do you think Mel Gibson will (or should) follow up his record-breaking biblical drama? Let us know what you think in the comment section!

This sort of thing used to be civilized: you misbehaved throughout the year, Santa Claus gave you a lump of coal, done. But with the trailer for Mel Gibson’s Fatman, there’s a certain naughty kid who’s decided to take the law into his own hands, by putting a hit out on the holly jolly holiday maker himself. Judging by what we’ve seen, and what you’re about to see, it doesn’t look like Kris Kringle’s just going to lie down and take what’s coming to him. See for yourself, in Fatman’s first trailer below:

No folks, this isn’t a biopic of Kevin Smith’s Fatman on Batman podcast, though that’s an idea we’ll just stash in our back pockets for now. Rather, Fatman shows audiences a deranged, disillusioned Santa who finds himself losing faith in his abilities. Kids are actually shooting Santa in the world of directors Ian Nelms & Eshom Nelms’ creation, and Mel Gibson’s titular titan gets pretty banged up as a result. But there are those who still believe in Santa, namely the U.S. military, who have decided to draft Claus into some sort of secret mission.

Which, somehow, leads us to the meat of Fatman’s trailer, in which Walton Goggins plays the hitman hired by a bratty youth to retire jolly old St. Nick once and for all. The connection isn’t exactly clear at this point, but what is apparent is the fact that this movie is ready to go hardcore on the Santa mythos. With a Gibson v. Goggins title match in the cards, complete with exploding barn and bombastic taunts of claiming one’s head, it’s hard not to get excited about that concept.

Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo franchise may, or may not, be done and dusted, but to his The Expendables 3 co-star, there must have been some magic in bandana he metaphorically found. You can’t look at Fatman and not think that one legendary ‘80s action star isn’t tipping his Santa hat to the other, especially when a world weary attitude and the U.S. military are involved. So if you really need a hard sell on why Fatman might be the movie for you, think of it this way: Santa has become John Rambo, and Walton Goggins is the man crazy enough to try and kill him. If that doesn’t do it, I’m sure Elf will be in heavy rotation by time this movie comes out, and that just might be more your speed.

Fatman hits select theaters on November 13th, with the digital/video-on-demand release slated to hit not too long after on November 17th. Oh, and if you were worried the film would chicken out, it is indeed rated R; so you might want to reconsider programming a marathon of this film and Kurt Russell’s kinder/sexier holiday offering The Santa Chronicles. And don’t forget, we’ve made our own list here at CinemaBlend, and we check it more than twice, as the 2020 release schedule is constantly updated. If you’re in the mood to go back to the movies, that’s your one stop shop for what’s heading to theaters, and what’s taken the road to 2021.

The global pandemic is truly global and nobody has been completely safe from it. A number of major names including Tom Hanks and Idris Elba publicly revealed their diagnosis when they tested positive for COVID-19, but it turns out another big name also contracted the disease around the same time but did not reveal his situation. As we have recently learned that Lethal Weapon star Mel Gibson spent a week in the hospital due to coronavirus back in April.

A representative of Mel Gibson recently confirmed to People that the actor tested positive back in April and was hospitalized for a week, but has since made a complete recovery. He's tested negative for the virus on multiple occasions since and currently tests positive for antibodies.

Mel Gibson's positive test came about a month after Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson revealed their positive diagnosis, the pair was in Australia in preparation for Hanks to begin filming a new movie. Mel Gibson was diagnosed and treated at a hospital in the Los Angeles area.

While Mel Gibson has been flying a bit under the radar in recent years as far as Hollywood goes, it's still a little surprising that he was able to be treaded for COVID-19 in a hospital in April and somehow nobody learned that it happened until the end of July. While Gibson being hospitalized certainly indicates that the virus hit him a bit harder than it hits others, it doesn't sound like he was in any particular danger from the virus. Either way, it doesn't sound like he's dealing with any lasting effects, which has unfortunately been the case for many who otherwise recover from it.

Other celebrities like the previously mentioned Tom Hanks and Idris Elba were able to simply quarantine at home for the duration of their virus and hospitalization was not required.

With COVID-19 cases are on the rise in many places, Hollywood is still largely shut down, and so we probably won't see other celebrity names added to the list of those dealing with the virus, unless there are others, like Mel Gibson, who have dealt with it previously who were able to keep things quiet. Some film productions, like the Avatar sequels, have been able to get back underway because they're filming in New Zealand where the virus is under control. Other productions in some places have begun to get back underway with new safety precautions in place, but most are still playing the waiting game to see if and when it will be safe to get back to work.

Mel Gibson has a number of projects in the pipeline including the Joe Carnahan directed Boss Level with Frank Grillo, which is scheduled for release this year, though certainly, we'll have to wait and see if that actually happens. He's also reported to be directing a remake of The Wild Bunch.

Chicken Run is twenty years old and despite several, high quality stop motion movies releasing over those years, it still remains the top-grossing stop motion movie of all time. While you’d think such a success would earn Chicken Run’s sequel a place in the theaters, it’s heading to streaming instead.

Aardman Animations made this surprise announcement on their website today, which also marks the 20th anniversary of Chicken Run’s release, saying that Chicken Run 2 is planned to go into full production in 2021 and will be released on Netflix. This is no doubt exciting for the generations of movie fans who grew up with the original.

Of course, this isn’t entirely surprising, considering Netflix also released Aardman Animations' well-liked Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon. So Aardman clearly sees a winning relationship between them and the streaming giant, especially since they closed a deal with Studiocanal and Pathé to make it happen.

We’ve also got some good story details. Chicken Run 2 will be about Ginger and the rest of the flock as they settle on a remote peaceful island, away from dangerous humans. Ginger and Rocky have a little girl Molly and their life seems complete until it’s learned that chickens off the island face a new threat. Ginger and Rocky decide to leave their paradise to save the rest of the chickens.

Aardman Animations has been wanting to put Chicken Run 2 into development for a while now, but it seems like progress has been slow. Reports of a sequel came out a couple of years ago, and it sounded like back then they wanted to go full steam ahead with production. While it’s unknown at this point who of the old cast will return, we do know one voice actor won’t be returning—Mel Gibson. According to The Wrap, Mel Gibson will not be asked to return and the part of Rocky will be recast, seemingly in response to his controversial history.

And it makes total sense why they would want to get Chicken Run 2 into high gear, considering the film made $224.8 million on a $45 million budget. But with such a long gap between movies, perhaps the studio feared it might not have the same success in theater and decided to opt for Netflix, instead? It’s hard to know for sure.

With movies like Early Man and Shaun the Sheep, Aardman Animations has an impressive and successful track record of putting out stop-motion animated movies that do well critically and at the box office. For Chicken Run 2, Sam Fell, known for directing ParaNorman, will be taking the helm as director and writer.

The official title for Chicken Run 2 as well as the release date is unknown right now. As always, we’ll keep you updated on the latest movie news.

There’s no question that the Lethal Weapon series remains one of the most beloved and respected action franchises in Hollywood history. Warner Bros. has tried for years to rekindle interest in the series by luring Danny Glover and Mel Gibson back to their signature roles for Lethal Weapon 5, though some dedicated fans worry that, yes, the leads both may be too old for this shit.

But that hasn’t stopped the wheels of progress from turning on this production over the years, and there actually have been some positive signs indicating that Lethal Weapon 5 will make its way to theaters in the future. We may need to be patient. None of these moves are imminent. But there’s plenty we can report on Lethal Weapon 5, so read on and see what we know about this long-awaited sequel.

Will Lethal Weapon 5 Happen?

The latest bit of news that we have heard regarding Lethal Weapon 5 is that it IS moving forward, so that’s the good news. Producer Dan Lin was speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about his Oscar contender The Two Popes when he confirmed that Lethal Weapon 5 was in the pipeline at Warner Bros.

This news came after decades of false starts and fizzled plans. The last Lethal Weapon movie hit theaters in 1998, and rumors of a fifth movie have been hot and cold, with frequency, essentially since that time. But this 2018 interview with THR was the latest confirmation that executives and creatives were working on Lethal Weapon 5, and that they wanted it to move forward, so that’s where we are in regards to the future of the anticipated movie.

Who Might Come Back For Lethal Weapon 5?

It wouldn’t really be a Lethal Weapon movie without specific talents being involved, so the report that Lethal Weapon 5 is happening only really mattered because three names were attached to the project: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and director Richard Donner. These three have been involved with the franchise from day one, and so long as they are willing to return to the series, the Lethal Weapon story can continue.

The Lethal Weapon in the title refers to Martin Riggs (Gibson), who was suicidal at the start of the franchise, but also an extremely efficient cop. He’s paired with Glover’s no-nonsense and by-the-book family man Roger Murtaugh, and this odd couple comes to learn that they are far more effective as a team than they ever could be apart.

Over the years, as Riggs and Murtaugh dealt with crooked cops, Asian crime lords and South African drug smugglers, the Lethal Weapon family grew. At the time of the discussion surrounding Lethal Weapon 5, no other cast members beyond Mel Gibson and Danny Glover had been attached to the sequel. Though, if Lethal Weapon 5 was going to follow the pattern established by the other movies in the franchise, we can expect director Richard Donner to try and bring back familiar faces such as Rene Russo (who plays Riggs’ wife), Chris Rock (as Murtaugh’s son-in-law) and possibly even Joe Pesci. Good luck on that last one, however. The actor has long since retired, and had to be coaxed back to the big screen by Martin Scorsese for The Irishman. I’m not sure he’d also come back for Lethal Weapon 5.

What Could Lethal Weapon 5 Be About?

There’s one significant factor that Lethal Weapon 5 will have to address and be brutally honest with, and that’s the age of its main characters. Even if the movie were to come out this year (which is won’t), Danny Glover would be 73 and Mel Gibson would be 64. The idea that either of them would still be working for the LAPD would be ludicrous. Hell, Glover’s character was trying to retire in the FIRST movie, but the series kept figuring out how to keep him employed and on the job. Now, though, they’d have to come up with something different.

Reports on the progress of Lethal Weapon 5 rarely got into plot specifics. There were reports that Richard Donner wants Lethal Weapon 4 screenwriter Channing Gibson (no relation to Mel) to come back and pen the script for Lethal Weapon 5. And in the aforementioned THR roundtable, producer Dan Lin expressed that the story they have for Lethal Weapon 5 is “very personal” to Dick Donner and the cast, suggesting that they do, in fact, have an idea they are pursuing. Which is great.

Back in 2016, original Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black – who has gone on to write and direct his own crime-comedy masterpieces – revealed a plan that he had for Lethal Weapon 5. His pitch acknowledged the fact that Riggs and Murtaugh were older, and he shifted the action from L.A. to New York City during a blizzard… which is a fantastic way to instantly freshen up the franchise. But Black hasn’t been associated with the series in decades (too bad, as his contributions led to the best movies in the saga), so we don’t see Channing Gibson using this idea if and when Lethal Weapon 5 moves forward.

Who Will Direct Lethal Weapon 5?

The same person who has directed all four Lethal Weapon films to date: Richard Donner. And really, without Donner’s involvement, would they even do it?

I’m torn on that. We have seen multiple film franchises that move on from their original directors, such as the Terminator movies, the Die Hard films, and more. They don’t always work. But every once in a while, someone like J.J. Abrams will swoop in and revive the Star Wars franchise with a movie like The Force Awakens. At the same time, Ridley Scott keeps getting deeper and deeper into the Alien franchise and really seems to have lost his way, so there are caution stories in both avenues, and none of us really know what to expect when Richard Donner returns with Lethal Weapon 5.

While everything that we have reported in this story suggest that Donner is coming back to conclude this series (he has said that the working title for Lethal Weapon 5 is Lethal Finale), it’s worth pointing out that Donner hasn’t helmed a movie since 2006’s 16 Blocks, with Bruce Willis. And currently, Donner is 89 years old. Now, here’s where I tell you that 89-year-old Clint Eastwood still releases, essentially, one movie a year. So it’s very possible. And what a way to end a career!

What About The Lethal Weapon TV Show?

Ah yes, that’s right. The Lethal Weapon television show. Well, the FOX series has no impact on the movie side of Lethal Weapon, and so will have no effect on Lethal Weapon 5. It’s essentially a multi-verse story, where different actors (Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans) played different versions of Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. There were similarities to identities and structure of the characters and their relationship. But the TV show was free to explore different factors of how these characters existed, whereas Lethal Weapon 5 would have to carry through on important plot points that were introduced in the Lethal Weapon movies.

Like what? Well, when Lethal Weapon 4 ended, Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Lorna (Rene Russo) had their first child. And they got married… by a rabbi! Also, Murtaugh’s oldest daughter Rianne delivered a child, as well, turning Roger into a grandfather. Officially, he is too old for this shit. But it also means that these two men, who we have followed for years, have a lot more to lose in their lives. And if Richard Donner has a story point that he calls “personal,” then it could mean that there’s a threat leveled at the family members of our two leads. We’ve seen action films introduce older versions of child characters in movie series. Will Lethal Weapon 5 choose to go in this direction?

The signs we have for Lethal Weapon 5 are far more positive than they ever have been in the past. If Richard Donner has a script, and a desire to close out the saga, then we absolutely can see both Mel Gibson and Danny Glover returning to their classic characters. Also, both men are still acting, as we saw them on screen in Boss Level and Jumanji: The Next Level, respectively.

We will continue to track the progress of Lethal Weapon 5, and also hope that the production delays that are currently plaguing the film industry don’t lead to a pause in production that leaves the sequel on the Development Shelf for eternity. Stay tuned, and we shall see how this plays out.

Easter arrives this weekend, and many families will no doubt be looking for ways to mark the occasion. Unfortunately, due to our current situation, their means of celebration may be somewhat limited this year. But streaming services will still provide a way for many of them to watch movies or TV shows together – either physically or remotely. A prime movie that’s associated with the Easter holiday is The Passion of the Christ and, if you’re hoping to check it out for free over the weekend, you’re in luck.

The Passion of the Christ is currently free to stream on Vudu. The Jim Caviezel-led film is one of only a handful of religious based-based films that the streaming service is offering with no charge.

With the film having been originally been released in 2004, the fact that Vudu would offer the it for free doesn’t come as much of a surprise. And even if it were to have been priced, the film’s age would have probably made it fairly reasonable to rent or buy.

When Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ original opened in theaters, it had a polarizing effect on critics. Many were impressed with elements like the cinematography, makeup and Jim Caviezel’s strong performance as Jesus Christ. However, its controversial writer-director was also criticized for the film’s alleged antisemitic messages and use of graphic violence. Some may still remember the seeing the torture of Jesus at the hands of the Roman guards.

Despite the criticisms, The Passion of the Christ was a success at the box office, bringing in over $600 million on a $30 million budget. It also gained significant support from evangelical audiences, as many of those audience members arranged group trips to the theater to go see it.

In the years following the film’s release, Mel Gibson has expressed interest in producing a sequel that would focus on the resurrection of Jesus. Randall Wallace, who penned the script for Mel Gibson’s Braveheart, was revealed to be working on a screenplay for a sequel to The Passion of the Christ in 2016.

It also sounds like Jim Caviezel is game for reprising his titular role for a second film. In 2018, the actor not only promised that Gibson would make the film, but he also declared that it would become the biggest movie in history.

This is definitely a bold claim on Caviezel’s part, which was unlikely then but even more unlikely now following the release of Avengers: Endgame. Still, you have to admire the actor’s confidence.

At this point, it looks like The Passion of the Christ 2 still has a long way to go before it makes it to the silver screen. But those wanting to revisit the original will have plenty of opportunities to stream it this weekend, whether it be through Vudu or through Amazon Prime, which charges a fee to rent.

Jason Momoa kicked a hornet's nest with his new photos with Mel Gibson and Peter Dinklage.

Some fans were thrilled to see another Game of Thrones reunion for Jason Momoa and Peter Dinklage, despite their respective characters Khal Drogo and Tyrion Lannister never getting to share scenes. On another level, fans were curious whether the photo was a hint that Momoa was filming Mel Gibson's The Wild Bunch remake, since 2019 reports noted Dinklage was in early talks for a role. And on still another level, many fans were surprised at Momoa's gushing love for Mel Gibson considering Gibson's problematic past.

Check out the three photos in question:

I love the chill second slide photo, like a Big Lebowski remake.

Clearly Jason Momoa is a huge Mel Gibson fan, from Mad Max, Lethal Weapon, and Braveheart to Apocalypto, which cast indigenous actors. Momoa doesn't explain what he's doing with Gibson and Dinklage, but "#intheworks" suggests something is in the works, and consider the Wild Bunch reports from last year, that may be what we're looking at.

Mel Gibson has been talking about a Wild Bunch remake for a while. In May 2019, Deadline reported that Michael Fassbender, Jamie Foxx, and Peter Dinklage were in early talks for a contemporary remake of the 1969 Sam Peckinpah Western. The script was said to be co-written by Mel Gibson and Bryan Bagby. Sources told the site that production was aiming for the fall, which would've presumably been last fall. But that's really the last we heard from the movie on an official side.

The other part of this is contrasting Jason Momoa's adoration for Mel Gibson with some of the comments on his post.

(I forgot when Jason Momoa called out Chris Pratt for using a water bottle!)

A few fans praised the Oscar winner as a great actor and director, but many others brought up comments in reference to Mel Gibson's past -- including Gibson's derogatory comments about homosexuals; saying Jews were “responsible for all the wars in the world" during his 2006 DUI arrest; and allegations of domestic violence against his ex Oksana Grigorieva. He pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor battery against Grigorieva, and he was recorded ranting at her, saying he hoped she was sexually assaulted in a graphic diatribe that included racial slurs.

Mel Gibson has addressed his behavior over the years and apologized, and he does have defenders. He also dislikes when his past is brought up, but there are multiple things to bring up and fans have long memories. And clearly many fans following Jason Momoa are not also fans of Mel Gibson, which may not mean anything for Momoa's career choices, but at least now he knows.

Jason Momoa fans will have to stay tuned to see what exactly is in the works with Mel Gibson, but from here it does sound like something with the Wild Bunch could be happening. If so, are you in or out?

In 2019’s round of awards consideration buzz, Shia LaBeouf’s portrayal of James Lort, the fictional surrogate for his own father in the semi-autobiographical film Honey Boy has been gaining him some pretty solid traction. It’s the sort of news any actor wants to hear, and it almost didn’t happen for one specific reason: LaBeouf was gunning for actor Mel Gibson to play the version of his father he’d crafted for the movie. When he actually did end up filling the role himself, he definitely lied to his dad about it.

During a roundtable interview with other contemporaries hotly tipped for prestige buzz, Shia LaBeouf responded with the following story about lying to his dad to get him to sign off on Honey Boy:

Shia LaBeouf hadn’t talked to his father, Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf, in almost a decade before he tried to tell the story of their strained relationship, which is an important component to the story that Honey Boy is trying to tell. But in trying to get the details right, he had to break that silence, which is never easy when family members go for so long without even a passing remark to one another.

So, if your estranged dad is hoping to be played by Mel Gibson, you obviously want to keep him happy by saying that’s exactly what’s happening. Which is how the story LaBeouf told those on hand for THR’s Actor Roundtable came to be. Strangely enough, without that white lie being told to grease the wheels to Honey Boy’s production, Shia LaBeouf may have lost out on more than he knew.

The narrative film debut of music video director Alma Har’el, Honey Boy is one of the two films credited with the resurgence of Shia LaBeouf’s acting career; the other being directors Tyler Nielson and Michael Schwartz’s feel-good river epic The Peanut Butter Falcon. A pair of films that are definitely night and day when compared to one another, both have served as therapeutic experiences for LaBeouf, allowing him to hone his craft and better himself in the process.

From a professional and personal standpoint, it feels like Honey Boy came along at the right time in Shia LaBeouf’s life. While the attention must be a bonus for the hard work he’s contributed to his projects in 2019, the ability to tell stories that helped rejuvenate and redefine him as an actor and a person are the greater win. Though it also helps that Jeffrey Craig was rather proud of his son’s performance, which is the best you can expect after pulling a fast one involving Mel Gibson.

You can experience both of those performances in your own time, as The Peanut Butter Falcon is currently available on home video and Honey Boy still playing in limited theatrical release.

Starring in a major Marvel movie seems like a cushy gig. Actually, in some respects, it's an actor's dream. It allows them to appear in immensely popular, instantly recognizable properties, seen and beloved by millions of people around the world. It also means higher awareness of an actor's brand, giving these performers a ton of projects for the foreseeable future. It's steady work with well-rounded characters that's pretty much certified to succeed — both financially and critically. What's not to like? Especially in a fickle business like Hollywood, Marvel is a sure thing.

Well, suffice to say, the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn't for everyone. While it can seem like everyone and their brother has appeared — or tried to appear — in a Marvel movie, there are some folks who have notably missed out or skipped on the opportunity to be at the forefront of a major Marvel film. Opportunities don't always work out. Either someone else lands the job or the actors themselves move on to different projects. In either case, these are just a few of the actors who missed their chance to star in a Marvel movie. At least, for the time being. With so many movies left in store, there's always another coming down the pipeline.

Tom Cruise Could Have Played Tony Stark/Iron Man

It's hard to imagine anyone besides Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. If the studio heads and some of the producers had their way, however, it would've been a totally different actor in the part. Back in 2006-07, when Iron Man was being made and the character wasn't nearly as well-known as he is today outside of comic book stores, the financiers were concerned director Jon Favreau's top choice for the title role, Robert Downey Jr., wasn't a big enough name to adequately sell the picture. Downey Jr. had a troubled past that still haunted him at this point, and there was no guarantee of his commercial success. Therefore, the studio heads were thinking Tom Cruise would be a smarter investment, and the actor was interested in starring and producing.

Ultimately, though, Jon Favreau stuck to his guns and made a convincing case for Robert Downey Jr. to play the part, as his life seemed to mirror the arc and journey the lead character has throughout the inaugural MCU movie. It's not clear how Robert Downey Jr. got picked (Nicolas Cage was also rumored to be interested in playing the part), but no matter the reason, it's clear that the studio nabbed the right choice, as the performance was the spark through which the MCU first caught fire. Meanwhile, Tom Cruise claims he "wasn't close" to playing Tony Stark in an interview, but it's hard to know exactly where talks left off. No matter. While Cruise would've been an interesting, Marvel made the right call.

John Krasinski Could Have Played Steve Rogers/Captain America

In 2011, it was hard to imagine Jim Halpert from The Office becoming one of the biggest action stars on the planet. While John Krasinski has since proven himself in the action genre with his hit Amazon series, Jack Ryan, becoming an action star could have happened sooner, as Krasinski was pretty darn close to getting the part. He even got to wear the Captain America suit, although ultimately Chris Evans won the role. While it's hard to complain with this choice, since Evans gave an impactful performance as America's finest hero, it would have been interesting to see what John Krasinski could have done in this role.

Ultimately, Chris Evans had a leg up on John Krasinski since he was already in comic book movies like Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World before Captain America: The First Avenger threw its shield onto the screen, but Krasinski doesn't sound terribly disappointed with how it turned out. While it was a plushy gig, Krasinski believes he wouldn't have been given a chance to direct A Quiet Place or continue with The Office if he had played Captain America. It's hard to know what would have happened with his career, but I'm happy with how Cap turned out.

Emily Blunt Could Have Played Peggy Carter AND Black Widow

Evidently, Marvel had their sights set on casting Emily Blunt in one of its key roles. The actress was given a chance to play both Peggy Carter and Black Widow, but she ultimately turned down the opportunity to play both roles for two separate reasons. When it came to possibly playing Peggy, the actress ultimately found that scheduling conflicts restricted her from playing the part. Meanwhile, when it came to playing Natasha Romanova, the British actress wasn't interested in being restricted for the next decade-plus. These roles went to Hayley Atwell and Scarlett Johansson, respectively.

Similar to her husband John Krasinski, Emily Blunt has made peace with not appearing in the ever-extensive Marvel Cinematic Universe. She believes the choices she made in lieu of this growing franchise, including A Quiet Place, Edge of Tomorrow, Sicario, and several others were ultimately more befitting of her time and effort, and she holds no resentment about passing up both chances to appear inside this huge universe.

Joaquin Phoenix Could Have Played Doctor Strange

Before Joaquin Phoenix adopted the white face paint to play the Joker, there was a time when the acclaimed actor was considering joining the MCU. During pre-production on Doctor Strange, Phoenix expressed interest in playing the magical superhero. He was even seen inside a comic book store collecting copies of Doctor Strange comics when given some downtime during production on Irrational Man. Alas, there was a good bit of back and forth with the potential Phoenix casting, since the actor was hesitant about signing a multi-picture contract. Unlike Joker, which is currently only a one-picture commitment, it was guaranteed that Joaquin Phoenix would be appearing in several Marvel movies during his time inside the MCU. Ultimately, those restrictions caused him to pass.

Ultimately, it's hard to know what Joaquin Phoenix would've done in this role. Benedict Cumberbatch does a fine job in the role, but I don't think he quite stands out among his peers. It can be hard not to compare him to Iron Man/Tony Stark, for instance. Whether or not Phoenix would've been worse or better, he probably would've had a different take on the role, especially given his generally less predictable acting choices. In any case, Phoenix has excelled in several exceptional turns in the past few years, so this is ultimately not a loss for the exceptionally talented actor.

Mel Gibson Could Have Played Odin

While Odin hasn't played a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe outside of 2011's undervalued Thor, he has played a looming presence, most particularly since the role is played by Oscar-winning thespian, Anthony Hopkins. However, the Silence of the Lambs actor was apparently not the first person to be asked to play the part. Apparently, Mel Gibson was also considered for the fatherly role, though the troubled actor/director turned it down.

This would-be casting information came out during an interview Mel Gibson gave for his movie Blood Father with The Guardian. He ultimately didn't disclose why he didn't play the part, though his muted feelings regarding Marvel movies that he reveals earlier in the conversation suggests that they aren't entirely his bag and that Mel Gibson didn't seem to be upset that he ultimately turned down the opportunity to play the recurring supporting character.

Saoirse Ronan Could Have Played Scarlet Witch

There's no denying that Saoirse Ronan is one of the most talented and versatile actresses working in Hollywood today. The Irish actress demonstrates impeccable range and dramatic heft, and the exceptionally bright young talent continues to excel at giving high-quality performances that are wise beyond her years. Nevertheless, there is an alternate timeline where she didn't make movies like Lady Bird and Little Women and instead appeared as Scarlet Witch inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During the making of Avengers: Age of Ultron, she was offered the part; however, she ultimately declined.

While Elizabeth Olsen does a fine job in the part, it would be interesting to see Saoirse Ronan play this growing character inside the constantly evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe. Alas, it wasn't meant to be, but Saoirse Ronan has certainly proven her talents many times over in many exceptional roles.

Glenn Howerton Could Have Played Peter Quill/Star-Lord

There were ultimately two sitcom stars in the running to play the part of Peter Quill, i.e. Star-Lord. It came down to Parks and Recreation's Chris Pratt and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Glenn Howerton. Of the two, it was Chris Pratt who got picked to play the goofball, but Howerton came quite close to getting the part. Especially when you take into account his work on shows like Sunny and A.P. Bio, you can see how he could have fared.

Alas, while Glenn Howerton does some amazing work as Dennis Reynolds in Always Sunny, his persona might've been too prickly compared to Chris Pratt. The actor has a boyish charm that makes him a natural fit for the gig, and he has done some really solid work in the role — notably in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. While Howerton would probably have been good too, it does seem like Marvel and James Gunn ultimately made the right call.

Danny DeVito Could Have Played Rocket Raccoon

Apparently, writer/director James Gunn is quite a fan of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. As well he should be, of course. In addition to considering Glenn Howerton for the role of Star-Lord, there were also discussions about possibly casting his Emmy-worthy co-star Danny DeVito as the voice of Rocket Raccoon. Alas, it didn't come together. Perhaps it had something to do with DeVito's New Jersey accent over Rocket's thick New York accent?

It's hard to say, but while Bradley Cooper does a phenomenal job in the role (in my view, it's one of the more underrated MCU performances, as he completely disappears into the role), it's hard to imagine turning down Danny DeVito for any gig, let alone one where he plays a talking space raccoon who wears human clothes. Oh well. Obviously, Guardians of the Galaxy turned into an incredibly successful movie, but you also have to wonder here ...

In addition to these casting opportunities, it's worth noting that Timothee Chalamet was considered for Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Amandla Stenberg was sought for Shuri, and Amanda Seyfried almost played Gamora. Each would've been an interesting choice for their respective roles, but you can't test fate. Ultimately, only Doctor Strange would know what possibilities were found in casting anyone over their respective actors. We can only guess.

To be offered the part of James Bond is, to some, one of the most sought after gigs ever to hit a casting call. Others, past and present, have seen that offer as either a typecasting nightmare or a public relations struggle, thus making it a poison pill... figuratively speaking. Either way, if your name comes up in reference to a role so huge as 007, it tends to make the rounds whether you take it or not.

And out of the history of the men who would be Bond, there are 12 actors who are surprise choices, as well as some prime targets, that all would have brought something different to the role. But in the case of this batch of a dozen candidates, none of them were issued that infamous license to kill.

Cary Grant

Right from the beginning of recorded franchise history, there was a surprise candidate on the shortlist to play 007 that would have changed the history of the character forever. Hollywood legend Cary Grant was offered the role as casting for Dr. No was underway, thanks to the fact that he was a personal friend/best man to the producer running the show, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli. While their friendship was strong, the British born, but American citizen Grant turned down the role for one important reason that was mentioned in The Guardian’s confirmation of this iconic story: at 58 years old, Cary Grant thought he had aged out of the part. Sean Connery was then cast, and the rest became history.

Dick Van Dyke

When Sean Connery left the role of James Bond for the first time, after 1967’s You Only Live Twice, a lot of candidates were vetted to take over the role, including a young Timothy Dalton. But while Dalton’s youth seemed to be the stumbling block that prevented him from taking the job, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star Dick Van Dyke didn’t get the leading role in another Ian Fleming adaptation because of his controversial English accent. According to knowledge that came out of an appearance on Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, via Yahoo, Van Dyke’s work on that very film was what interested Albert Broccoli in asking him if he’d wanted the role. But that offer quickly passed, as Dick Van Dyke asked him if he’d remembered his accent from Mary Poppins, and the offer was rescinded as quickly as it was made. Though, at the very least, Van Dyke did eventually apologize at the BAFTAs for the whole accent situation.

Clint Eastwood

If there was an American who could have taken the mantle of James Bond and been believable in the process, Clint Eastwood is one of the few who could have done it. During the hunt that eventually delivered George Lazenby into the lead for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Eastwood’s name came up in the proceedings as his lawyer also represented series mastermind Broccoli. Even in the face of an offer that gave him the hottest ticket in town, and, according to The Telegraph, a pretty lucrative pay day, the acting/directing powerhouse couldn’t bring himself to accept because it didn’t feel right. Considering how unforgettable Sean Connery was in the role, even to Clint Eastwood himself in that very moment, one can’t fault him for passing.

Burt Reynolds

Just as Burt Reynolds admitted in his autobiography that Sally Field was the one that got away in his romantic life, the Smokey and The Bandit actor fully admits that he also let his chance to be 007 slip through his fingers as well. Though, via USA Today’s coverage of that book, But Enough About Me, the late actor admitted that he passed up on the role merely because he didn’t think the moviegoing public would believe him as Bond, James Bond. Being offered the role around the time he played detective Dan August on TV, Reynolds turned down the chance to play the lead in Diamonds Are Forever. While this eventually allowed Sean Connery to return a second and final time to the franchise proper, Burt Reynolds felt that in retrospect, he could have done a hell of a job in the position.

James Brolin

This is the closest we’ve ever come to having an American playing the role of James Bond, as The Amityville Horror star James Brolin was pretty much cast as James Bond during a crucial phase in his 1980s history. The actor was screen tested for 1983’s Octopussy, when Roger Moore looked to be exiting the series in favor of new opportunities, and pretty much had the part. However, as Den Of Geek pointed out, the production of a rival Bond remake starring Sean Connery, and the recent financial woes MGM and United Artists ran into, both influenced the studio to win Moore back to his record setting job. So just as Brolin was getting ready to relocate to England full time, it all fell apart, leaving him to move onto one of his most famous roles: Peter McDermott, the general manager of the St. Gregory hotel, on the popular TV series Hotel.

Mel Gibson

While 1983’s Octopussy brought Roger Moore back to the table for two more James Bond films, 1985’s A View to a Kill would eventually mark the man’s official departure from the role. And around that time in movie history, a young Australian actor by the name of Mel Gibson was making a name for himself by starring in the Mad Max series of films. His work in that trilogy undoubtedly helped MGM come around to offering him the role, just in time for The Living Daylights to get underway, but Gibson was unphased by this potential job offering. Per coverage of an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, via Express, the man who would eventually shift over to films like Lethal Weapon said he rejected the idea because he wasn’t at all interested. Which was better off for the studio, because Albert Broccoli was not convinced he’d be a good fit, and the role eventually opened up for Timothy Dalton to finally claim it.

Sam Neill

Getting Timothy Dalton into the role of James Bond wasn’t as easy or certain as you’d think, as not only did he have to wait a while after first turning down starring in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (he felt he was too young for the role at the time), but he also was a part of a pretty wide net cast for The Living Daylights. That net not only included Mel Gibson, but also Jurassic Park’s Sam Neill, who was apparently bullied into screen testing for the film by his agent. At least, that’s what his remarks to The Telegraph said at the time he admitted to it. The screen test footage did eventually see the light of day, but not until after the settlement of a mini-crisis involving that clip not being fully cleared for usage before being included on the initial DVD release of The Living Daylights.

Ralph Fiennes

As the legal battle over the James Bond series flared up yet again in the late '80s, the delay between License To Kill and what would have been Timothy Dalton’s third Bond film eventually lead to the actor’s contract expiring without any attempt at renewal. Once the dust had settled and it was time to bring 007 into a post-Cold War world, Goldeneye was the name of the film that would make an actor the lucky spy to update the series. Believe it or not, we almost had actor Ralph Fiennes playing the role, as he admitted in an interview in Seven Magazine, via The Telegraph, that he was approached by the series’ producers. Ultimately, Fiennes wasn’t up to committing to a franchise, and he felt that the people in charge of the series were more stuck on Pierce Brosnan than anyone else. While he wasn’t too attached to Bond, Ralph Fiennes would eventually land a role that he’s still covetous of to this very day, Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise. Still, he is the current M in the Daniel Craig era of films, so you could say that this was fate.

Ewan McGregor

If there’s anything the James Bond series has taught fans, it’s that if you don’t retire from the role, a big rift in history will do the job for you. That’s how Pierce Brosnan ended up vacating the franchise, as once Die Another Day was released, he would eventually find himself replaced, with a new round of recasting up and running. And a lot of names were considered to be James Bond in the run-up to Casino Royale, with Ewan McGregor factoring in pretty chiefly among them. Of course, were it not for his performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars universe, he might not have felt typecast and would have taken the role. Though in more recent times, McGregor has admitted that if he were to ever be considered again, he’d be more inclined to take the part and run.

Hugh Jackman

Another pretty big name in the Casino Royale derby was the incomparable Hugh Jackman, of X-Men and The Greatest Showman fame. As the story he told Variety goes, his agent asked him if he’d want to be considered for the role, which was being recast around the same time that X-Men 2: X-Men United was about to go into production. Not a fan of the stories the James Bond series was running at the time, Jackman passed because he felt something edgier would have been his bag, and having another involved franchise on his plate would have complicated his schedule even more. So before it got too hot, Hugh Jackman politely declined, ironically just as the Bond series was about to reboot itself in that dark and edgy tone he probably would have said yes to.

Karl Urban

New Zealand native Karl Urban falls into a boat similar to that of American candidate James Brolin before him, as fate had other ideas when it came to his consideration for the role of James Bond. Only this time, as Urban told Nine.com, it was because of a prior engagement that he didn’t land the role of Casino Royale. While he met with the producers of the series, and things went rather well in that respect, all that was missing was one final screen test to seal the deal. And that deal was definitely not sealed, because Karl Urban’s filming schedule at the time prevented that screen test from happening. But as surprising as Urban’s name is on the short list, there’s one pretty big name that got to the final four, only to see Daniel Craig win out overall.

Henry Cavill

Still a couple years out from his career boosting role on Showtime’s The Tudors, as well as playing a very Bond-like figure in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., a then-22-year-old Henry Cavill was part of the final screen tests that would decide who got to star in Casino Royale back in 2005. Listed among Daniel Craig, Goran Visnjic and Sam Worthington in the BBC’s coverage of the event, Cavill’s rejection story is quite simple when compared to all the others that we’ve covered previously. He simply wasn’t selected in the field that included Craig’s candidacy, which left him open for other opportunities in franchise like the DC Extended Universe and the Mission: Impossible series. Though another lesson that we’ve learned from the Bond franchise is, quite simply, never say never.

Henry Cavill has expressed interest and enthusiasm about potentially becoming James Bond, while cooly rounding off the rumors that continue to dog him as saying he doesn’t know what’s in store for the series after Daniel Craig’s departure. He certainly wouldn’t be the first person to get a second bite at the apple, with the potential to win overall, so we won’t count him out of the race just yet.

For now though, we’ll have Daniel Craig’s supposedly final James Bond film to look forward to, as Bond 25 is currently in production and set for an April 8, 2020 release date.

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What if you could hear the innermost thoughts of the men around you? Terrifying, right? Well, in the new Taraji P. Henson comedy What Men Want, the uncomfortable honesty that comes with mens’ thoughts also leads to hilarity, especially as Henson tries to get inside the brains of Tracy Morgan, Pete Davidson, Max Greenfield and Shaquille O’Neal. You might not realize that What Men Want is a spin on the Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt comedy What Women Want, from 2000. So when CinemaBlend sat down with the Men cast, we asked them what classic Taraji role would they love to see Mel Gibson tackle, and Henson had an immediate reply:

Didn’t even take her a moment to realize that Taraji P. Henson would love to see Mel Gibson tackle the role of Cookie Lyon from FOX’s hit drama Empire. It would be as much of a role-reversal as Henson slipping into the role of a business executive who is blessed (or is it cursed?) with the ability to hear the thoughts of the opposite sex.

And now we can’t stop thinking about Mel Gibson trading scenes with Terrence Howard as they talked the inner workings of the Hip-Hop world.

When we posed the same question to What Men Want director Adam Shankman and his producer, Will Packer, they both went after some of Taraji P. Henson’s other signature roles. And yet, the effect was equally comedic! They told us:

It has been a while since Mel Gibson has challenged himself in a role, and we couldn’t see him taking on a role like a pregnant prostitute. That’s some Spike Jonze-level insanity. But Gibson is open to comedy, as he recently appeared in the sequel Daddy’s Home Two. It broke up his string of action thrillers like Blood Father and Get The Gringo.

Here’s the cast of What Men Want, career-speculating on the one-time Braveheart director.

And in addition to that, we’ve been offered an exclusive listen to the title track from the What Men Want score, by Brian Tyler. It’s available now on Lakeshore Records. Give this a listen:

Want to see what Taraji P. Henson does with an old Mel Gibson role? Then head to theater to see What Men Want, right now. But hit our review of the film before you go. It will help you prepare for what to expect.

In case you hadn't heard, the rampant Hollywood trend of remakes isn't going anywhere. One of which being a new take on 2000's What Women Want starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. That rom-com followed a misogynist advertising executive who one day gains the ability to hear the thoughts of women. It now serves as an inspiration for the upcoming film What Men What starring Taraji P. Henson, who will be listening in to inner workings of men's minds this time around.

In anticipation for the film's release this February, I spoke with What Men What's director Adam Shankman about the project. Now I'm no mind reader, but amidst news of films based on another, we often wonder how much will be recycled from what we've already seen. Here's what Shankman said:

Whew! As charming as What Women Want was back in its day, seeing it again, just with the genders flipped isn't enough to make it worth the revisit. What Men What is using the same "curse" set-up as the Mel Gibson version, with some completely different circumstances surrounding it.

This time Taraji P. Henson will play a sports agent trying to break the glass ceiling in her male dominated office, where she believes she's earned a promotion. In the comedy, Henson's character drinks a questionable brew of tea from a psychic and bumps her head at a nightclub, waking up with the thoughts of the men all around inside her head.

Director Adam Shankman did notice a distinct difference between the set ups of What Men Want in comparison to the Mel Gibson movie with the film's main characters in his interview with CinemaBlend. In his words:

In an age when female actresses are taking roles previously held by men in movies, this example is an interesting one because it shows that the replacement of gender held an importance in how the lead's story plays out. Take a look at the latest red-band trailer for What Men Want:

While in What Women Want, Mel Gibson's chauvinistic behaviors were put under the microscope due to his new ability, Taraji P. Henson will learn a common misconception between the two genders: they're more alike than we think. What Men Want will perhaps combat the cultural construct of the opposite sex being literal opposites, aside from being an entertaining comedy. Not a bad way to do a remake.

What Men Want comes to theaters on February 8, 2019 and stars Aldis Hodge, Tracy Morgan, Pete Davidson and Max Greenfield alongside star Taraji P. Henson.

It's a limbo project we might never see, though news of its possibilities emerges every so often, to fan the flames of hope in a tired fanbase. I'm talking, of course, about Lethal Weapon 5, a sequel that Richard Donner has been dangling in front of Riggs and Murtaugh devotees for years, with even Mel Gibson and Danny Glover expressing interest. Now, however, the original Lethal Weapon director (four times over) reveals the title of the potential sequel, while also admitting that it probably isn't going to happen. In an interview, Donner explains:

You have to be intrigued. You can be nervous, too. But the mention of a "very dark" Lethal Weapon finale has me dreaming. People might forget how grim the original movie was. Yes, there was humor laced throughout it, pulled from the chemistry of leading men Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. But in the first movie, Martin Riggs (Gibson) is a suicidal head case, and the villains they faced off against were deranged Special Forces mercenaries who'd stop at nothing to protect their shipments of heroin.

The movies in the Lethal Weapon franchise got progressively cartoonish, as the scripts leaned into the physical comedy and got away from the menace that original screenwriter Shane Black (a master at this genre) brought to the dialogue. By the time we got to Lethal Weapon 4, Joe Pesci and Chris Rock were doing comedy bits in between clumsy action set pieces, and the franchise had lost its way.

Richard Donner's prognosis on Lethal Weapon 5, as told to the Nerdist podcast Maltin on Movies, sounds grim. And normally, I'd say that's fine. The franchise doesn't NEED another chapter. Lethal Weapon 4 was largely a dud. But then I saw Mel Gibson and Danny Glover together on stage for a recent Richard Donner tribute, and damn if this video didn't get me excited about the two of them playing off of each other one more time on screen:

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for any and all updates on Lethal Weapon 5 as they come.

You may remember that Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ caused quite a stir when it was released back in 2004. The violent religious film was not only at the center of some major controversy, but ultimately brought in $611.9 million at the global box office. That sets a pretty high bar for the developing sequel, The Resurrection, but star Jim Caviezel is actually promising that the movie will be even bigger than the original. In fact, he went as far as to say,

Right now we don't know a great deal about Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ sequel (a situation clearly not helped by Jim Caviezel), but the actor is making some crazy big promises before a single frame has been shot. Caviezel will soon be appearing in another Christianity-inspired feature, playing Paul in Paul, Apostle of Christ, but USA Today got him talking about the future during a recent interview. While you may think that only superhero features and Star Wars can make serious money at the modern box office, the man best known for playing Jesus Christ thinks differently.

To Jim Caviezel's credit, The Passion of the Christ did make a remarkable amount of money during its theatrical run - and remains a record holder to this day. After 14 years it continues to stand as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, pulling in $370.8 million domestically. Other titles have come close, including Deadpool ($363.1 million), American Sniper ($350.1 million) and IT ($327.5 million), but the number remains unmatched.

Realistically, however, it's pretty hard to believe that Jim Caviezel's prediction about The Passion of the Christ 2 will come true. After all, I specified "R-rated" above because the original's numbers aren't that huge from a larger perspective. Being the "biggest film in history" means The Resurrection making more than Avatar did at the global box office, and that would require the sequel (currently ranked #132 on the all-time worldwide charts) making more than four-and-a-half times the international haul of its predecessor. That is probably not happening.

As revealed by Mel Gibson back in late 2016, The Resurrection will - as you might guess - tell the story of what happened after Jesus Christ was crucified. Gibson is collaborating on the project with Randall Wallace, who is best known for writing the Academy Award-nominated screenplay for Braveheart. This is the first update we've heard about the project in a fairly long while, but apparently it's still coming together. Obviously we can't say when the film may come out because we don't know when it plans to actually go into production, but you can be sure that we'll have the information for you as quickly as it becomes available.

In today's Hollywood, if it's not a franchise movie but it has a big budget, there's a good chance it's a reboot or a remake. Unlike the blockbuster fare or classics that are often remade to capitalize on the power of branding and name recognition, it is much rarer to see romantic comedies getting remakes. That may be changing though because Paramount Players, in addition to resurrecting childhood favorites, is fast-tracking a remake of the 2000 romantic comedy starring Mel Gibson, What Women Want. But the twist this time around is that the film will be starring Taraji P. Henson, and she'll be finding out what men want.

This comedy inspired by the What Women Want, Taraji P. Henson stars as a female sports agent in the male dominated field. When her character in What Men Want gains the ability to hear what the men around her are thinking, she uses it to break the glass ceiling and try to sign the next NBA superstar. While no director is attached yet, the film should be ready for a January 11, 2019 release date, per Deadline.

The latest trend in remakes is gender-swapping famous roles, as happened in last year's Ghostbusters. But this latest remake is actually an interesting way of taking the core conceit of a film and using it to tell a different story. Being able to hear men's thoughts creates a lot of opportunities for fun situations and based on the early report, it seems this film will lean more into the comedy elements than the romance. Taraji P. Henson is super talented and is coming off of her role in the highly successful Hidden Figures, as well as starring in Fox's Empire. This starring role will hopefully give her a chance to show off her comedy chops.

What Women Want found Mel Gibson's character, a chauvinist ad executive, gaining the ability to hear women's thoughts and using it to get ahead in the bedroom and in the boardroom. The original flick featured a solid cast including Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, Alan Alda and Marisa Tomei. It also had a female touch behind the camera in director Nancy Meyers. The film grossed $374 million worldwide on a budget of $70 million. It will be interesting to see if this type of story can draw the same kind of audience 19 years later in a box office environment that is often feast or famine.

I appreciate that the studio is looking to try something different with this remake but I am concerned about some aspects of it. In the original, Mel Gibson's character not only used his ability to better aspects of his life, but he grew as a character through knowing how the women around him felt. The character started out as a chauvinist but his arc saw him become a better overall person who had a greater respect for the opposite sex. So far this remake just seems to be about using the power to get ahead in a male-dominated field, which could miss the point. I am hoping that there is more to it than that and the film allows for both comedy and insight.

There's no place like home for the holidays. Every year we're told as much, and it's a sentiment that still holds up. But if your home was filled with vicious relatives that couldn't get along and a chaotic atmosphere that only brought more disaster with each coming day, you'd probably find a nice hotel somewhere and ride out the storm in the comfort of some solitude. But if you can't escape real life relatives that do activities things during the holidays, you can take comfort in one thing you can skip this holiday season: Daddy's Home 2.

Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) and Brad (Will Ferrell) have changed a lot since the first time we saw them. Their co-dad'ing skills are sharp, their friendship is strong, and everything seems to be working out fine. With the Christmas season upon them, and the pressure of another two house celebration getting to everyone involved, it's decided that this year will be one, big, two family celebration -- complete with two very different grandpas (Mel Gibson and John Lithgow). Needless to say, chaos ensues, old wounds are opened, and a cell tower is destroyed.

If you haven't seen Daddy's Home and are afraid you've missed all the set-up you need to enjoy for Daddy's Home 2, don't be: almost every gag from the first film is repeated in the sequel, right down to the product placement friendly dialogue praising the glory of the Ford Flex. Admittedly, comedy sequels are hard, as coming up with fresh gags for an established pair is rough, resulting in some more obvious dialogue. But if you didn't laugh at Will Ferrell crashing a motorcycle into a Ford Flex in Daddy's Home, then you'll probably grimace when he manages the same feat with a snowblower.

And for a film that's supposed to celebrate Christmas, Daddy's Home 2 barely touches the yuletide season-- except for some late third act action and a running joke involving Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas Time?" Other than that, the same mean spirited dickery that prevailed throughout Daddy's Home shines right through its successor, only there's now two granddads, another mom, and another stepdad in the mix. And despite the comedic chops of folks like John Cena, Mel Gibson, and John Lithgow, there's no saving Daddy's Home 2 from taking after its cinematic father.

There are a couple positives that come out of Daddy's Home 2, and for a moment it feels like a totally different movie could have saved the franchise. Between the moments of tit-for-tat between Mel Gibson and John Lithgow, and one multi-dad gag involving the thermostat of the cabin they're all sharing, there's actually some laughs to be mined from this boring ore. The chemistry between the granddads is so good in the fleeting moments it's allowed to shine that if they were to propose a spin-off following the two men's exploits, as hinted at the end of thefilm, an R-rated version of such a prospect could be a funny concept. At the very least, it'd be funnier than two Daddy's Home movies put together. Hell, the PG-13 Christmas action thriller within the movie, Missile Tow, would have been a better experience, as that film was at least intended to be ridiculous and cliched, with Liam Neeson as its knowing lead.

Daddy's Home 2 is as much of a mean-spirited, emasculating, uneven celebration of both the alpha and beta male stereotypes as Daddy's Home was before. They just decided to dress it in an ugly Christmas sweater this time out. Being the total antithesis of a feel good holiday movie, it provides us with two more entertaining films that could have taken its place, and lets us only dream about those better days. It is as lazy as it is unfunny, dragging an hour and forty minute window into an eternity of pain. If anything, this is the movie Mark Wahlberg should hope Jesus forgives him for.

Insert your best "getting too old for this shit" joke here, folks, because it's sounding like Lethal Weapon 5 could be coming together at Warner Bros.

After years and years of false starts and abrupt stops -- seriously, we have stories tied to the possibility of Lethal Weapon 5 that date back to 2007 and beyond -- Deadline is now reporting that Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and director Richard Donner are circling the idea of doing one more chapter in the ongoing saga. The trade reports that Channing Gibson, who scripted Lethal Weapon 4, would return to the series (his TV credits include NYPD Blue, St. Elsewhere and L.A. Law). While far from a done deal, the possibility of this sequel has risen back to the surface, so let's break it all down.

The original Lethal Weapon came out in 1987, casting Mel Gibson as an unpredictable L.A. detective who gets paired with an older, by-the-book cop (Danny Glover) whose on the verge of retirement. Only, their chemistry was so combustible on screen, Hollywood wouldn't let this pair retire, and so Riggs (Gibson) and Murtaugh (Glover) returned for three additional films... all of which diminished in quality. Well, that's sort of true. I'd argue that the presence of Jet Li as the villain puts Lethal Weapon 4 ahead of Lethal Weapon 3, but we're comparing root canal to getting hit in the forehead with a hammer. Both suck.

There have been many ideas that have surfaced over the years that would attempt to get Mel Gibson and Danny Glover back into their signature roles, from moving the action to New York City (the franchise stayed in L.A. for every sequel) to pairing one of the top detectives with a younger cop and having Riggs or Murtagh serve as behind-the-desk mentors to the next generation of lethal weapons.

The timing of a possible Lethal Weapon 5 is also odd because FOX currently has its own Lethal Weapon TV show on the air, and it's doing... OK? Ratings were better in the debut season, but Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans are actually entertaining as a new Riggs and Murtagh, and the case-of-the-week structure fits the series well.

Still, I think fans of the original films would love to see one more adventure between the big-screen Riggs and Murtagh, so long as a few boxes are checked by the sequel. For starters, this story needs to be about Riggs and Murtagh, and not every family member they've ever encountered. By the finale of Lethal Weapon 4, the supporting cast of this saga had grown out of control. Strip this story back down to the basics, and make these men action heroes, not family men who occasionally punch bad guys. Also, don't relegate Riggs and Murtagh to supporting players in their own franchise. Joe Pesci, Rene Russo and Chris Rock and fun. They, however, are not why we come to a Lethal Weapon movie.

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Mel Gibson has been slowly working on a comeback of sorts thanks to popular films like the recent Hacksaw Ridge. However, now the actor's latest project is embroiled in a lawsuit because Gibson has filed one. The movie in question is called The Professor and the Madman and it follows the origins of the Oxford English Dictionary. In addition to starring in the film, Mel Gibson's Icon Productions is one of the studios producing the film, and it's in that capacity that Gibson, and his partner Bruce Davey, have sued Voltage Pictures, one of the other production partners.

According to the lawsuit (via Deadline), Icon is accusing Voltage Pictures of not abiding by the terms of the production contract. Specifically, Voltage Pictures allegedly never submitted a final budget for the production, and made changes to the shooting schedule, including not having key scenes filmed in Oxford, England, as the lawsuit claims had been previously agreed. In addition, one accusation of the lawsuit that seems supremely ironic, Voltage was responsible for selecting a completion guarantor, somebody who was responsible for making final decisions when the two production companies could not agree. Voltage did not do this according to the suit. The lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be awarded, as well as for the films rights to revert exclusively to Icon Productions.

The end result of the changes made by Voltage Pictures, according to the suit, is that director Farhad Safinia was prevented from completing a version of the film based on the agreed upon screenplay. This in turn meant the director could not produce a cut of the film to be reviewed by Mel Gibson, who had the final say on the film's theatrical cut.

Needless to say, this is all pretty messy. The lawsuit refers to The Professor and the Madman as a labor of love for Mel Gibson and his production partner, and if they care that deeply for this particular project then certainly they're unhappy with all these issues. The movie had an unspecified 2017 release date but if the edit is having as many issues as the lawsuit claims, it could certainly need to be pushed back.

The Professor and the Madman will star Mel Gibson as Professor James Murray, the man who began to compile words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in 1857. Sean Penn will play the "madman" of the title, Dr. William Chester Minor, who submitted more than 10,000 entries for the dictionary, all while being committed to an asylum for the criminally insane.

There will almost certainly be more to follow as this lawsuit moves through the court system. Keep reading CinemaBlend for more details as they emerge.