Yes, you read that headline correctly. Mel Gibson is currently preparing to direct another film after settling his latest bout of personal problems, and it will be based on the life of Judah Maccabee, a Jewish warrior from the 2nd century B.C. Collaborating with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct, Flash Dance) on the script, Gibson will have the first option to direct the untitled film, which is set up at Warner Bros. For those unfamiliar, Judah Maccabee’s life revolved around the “triumph and struggle against tyranny and oppression where people gave their lives so that others would be free to worship.” This project has apparently been on his wish list to make for quite a while now, even dating back to his drunken arrest when he caused controversy with some anti-Semitic remarks.

At first glance this might appear as a drastic change of pace for Gibson, but the story covers many themes he’s dealt with before. It already feels like similar territory to Braveheart, which won him some Oscars back when he was in favor. Plus, there’s bound to be some brutal battle scenes involved too, which has become a staple in nearly all of his films. And I’d be willing to bet that they film it super-authentic like Apocalypto, using original languages and so forth. It’s worth noting that Joe Eszterhas has had extensive experience writing on Jewish subjects with films like Betrayed and Music Box, so he brings a measure of perspective to the material.

I personally try not to judge actors/directors based on their personal lives, but instead by the quality of their work. Say what you will of Gibson, but he has talent as a filmmaker. I’m curious about this upcoming film and look forward to hearing more about it. What are your thoughts on Mel Gibson’s latest film and specifically what do you think about him focusing on Jewish subject matter?