Mel Gibson ‘was interested’ in starring in Schindler’s List… 14 years before his anti-Semitic scandal: ‘It wasn’t going to happen’
Ironically, Mel Gibson was on a shortlist of A-listers ‘interested’ in starring as Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 Holocaust drama Schindler’s List – 14 years before his anti-Semitic scandal.
“Mel Gibson’s name came up. He was interested. His agent brought him forward,” CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz said THR Thursday in a 30th anniversary oral history.
‘But it wouldn’t happen. Steven wanted a non-movie star for the role.”
And while the 77-year-old filmmaker refused to reveal who was vying for the plum role of the German industrialist who saved more than a thousand Jews by employing them in his factory, Liam Neeson dropped the spotlight.
“I heard Harrison Ford’s name. (Kevin) Costner’s name. Australian actor Jack Thompson,” the 71-year-old Irishman recalls.
Ironically, Mel Gibson was on a shortlist of A-listers ‘interested’ in starring as Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 Holocaust drama Schindler’s List – 14 years before his anti-Semitic scandal (pictured in 1992)
CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz told THR on Thursday, “Mel Gibson’s name came up. He was interested. His agent brought him forward. But it wouldn’t happen. Steven wanted a non-movie star for the role’
‘I thought, “Oh yeah, Jack looks a lot like Schindler.” I looked nothing like Schindler. Anyway, it was always in the back of my mind, but I didn’t have much hope for it.’
Liam ultimately received his only Oscar nomination for his performance as Schindler, but lost the Academy Award to Philadelphia star Tom Hanks.
“It’s the best movie I’ve ever made,” said Steven, who won his first two Oscars for directing and producing Schindler’s List.
‘I’m not going to say this is the best film I’ll ever make. But right now it’s the work I’m most proud of.”
The $22 million budget cinematic classic – based on Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel Schindler’s Ark – won a total of seven Oscars and amassed $322.2 million at the worldwide box office.
Two years later, Mel had an uncredited cameo in the 1995 Spielberg director-produced Universal Pictures supernatural comedy Casper.
The New York-born, Australian-raised 68-year-old tarnished his movie star persona during a 2006 DUI arrest when he told Sheriff’s Deputy James Mee, ‘Damn Jews… the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?’
The day after his arrest, Gibson entered rehab and separated from his wife of 26 years – Robyn Moore – and her subsequent $400 million divorce settlement in 2011 was the largest in Hollywood history.
And while the 77-year-old filmmaker (R, pictured in 1993) refused to reveal who was fighting for the plum part of the German industrialist who saved more than a thousand Jews by employing them in his factory, Liam Neeson (L) the beans spilled
The 71-year-old Irishman recalled: ‘I heard Harrison Ford’s name. (Kevin) Costner’s name. Australian actor Jack Thompson – I thought, “Oh yeah, Jack looks a lot like Schindler.” I looked nothing like Schindler. Anyway, it was always in the back of my mind, but I didn’t hold out much hope.”
The $22 million-budget classic film, based on Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel Schindler’s Ark, won a total of seven Oscars and grossed $322.2 million at the worldwide box office.
Two years later, Mel had an uncredited cameo in the 1995 Spielberg director-produced Universal Pictures supernatural comedy Casper.
The two-time Oscar winner – who started drinking at the age of 13 – was sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.
Five years later, Mel pleads no contest to a misdemeanor charge against baby mama Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he has a 14-year-old daughter Lucia.
Gibson had left Oksana voicemails saying, “You look like a pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n*****s, it’s your fault.”
Winona Ryder did that too repeatedly accused the divorced father of nine – whose father Hutton Gibson was anti-Semitic – who called her an “oven dodger” in the 1990s.
Last summer, Mel directed his eighth feature film – the upcoming thriller Flight Risk in Alaska – starring Mark Wahlberg, Topher Grace and Michelle Dockery.
Audiences last saw Gibson as hotel manager Cormac O’Connor in the three-episode prequel series The Continental: From the World of John Wick, Peacock’s biggest original launch of the year.
The Golden Globe winner also played Mitchell opposite Garrett Hedlund in Nadine Crocker’s Southern noir thriller Desperation Road, which earned just $40,799 at the global box office last October.
For his performance as Lieutenant Kevin Hickey in Michael Oblowitz’s judged bleakly thriller Confidential Informant, Mel was nominated for Worst Supporting Actor at the 44th Golden Raspberry Awards, to be announced on March 9.
The New York-born, Australian-raised 68-year-old tarnished his movie star persona during a 2006 DUI arrest when he told sheriff’s Deputy James Mee, “F***ing Jews… the Jews are responsible for all the wars.” in the world. Are you a Jew?’
Five years later, Mel pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge against baby mama Oksana Grigorieva, leaving her voicemails like, “You look like a pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n**** *s, it will its your fault
Audiences last saw Gibson as hotel manager Cormac O’Connor in the three-episode prequel series The Continental: From the World of John Wick, Peacock’s biggest original launch of the year
The two-time Oscar winner also played Mitchell opposite Garrett Hedlund (L) in Nadine Crocker’s Southern noir thriller Desperation Road, which earned just $40,799 at the worldwide box office last October.
For his performance as Lieutenant Kevin Hickey in Michael Oblowitz’s dismally reviewed thriller Confidential Informant, Mel was nominated for Worst Supporting Actor at the 44th Golden Raspberry Awards, to be announced on March 9.