Editorials > Mel Gibson Returns to Star in "Edge of Darkness"

After about six years of focusing nearly exclusively on his directorial projects (and making a considerable fortune doing so), Mel Gibson, the actor is planning to return to the silver screen. The film that will bring him out of semi-retirement will be "Edge of Darkness" scripted by William Monahan ("The Departed") and directed by Martin Campbell ("Casino Royale").

"Darkness" is based on a six-hour miniseries made by Campbell himself back in 1985 for the BBC. The (considerably shortened) film will focus on "a straitlaced police investigator whose activist daughter is killed. He plunges into the case and uncovers systemic corruption that led to his daughter's death." Graham King, producer of "The Departed," will produce this Boston-set drama as well. They're expecting to begin shooting in August.

Gibson hasn't headlined a movie since a pair of films in 2002: "We Were Soldiers" and M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs." During the past six years he's spent some of his time directing profitable films like "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto," while spending the rest of his time drunkenly ranting about the evils that Jews have brought unto the world. After such a long hiatus, this film will be the test to see if mainstream audiences can get past his ugly personal prejudices and accept the actor as a viable star again. Whether or not he deserves this chance is certainly contestable.

(Variety) 

-David Morgan