Mel Gibson to play Polish King?!

Cracow Life ^ | Nov.13.2006

[lizol]

Mel Gibson to play Polish King?!

Reports have emerged that Mel 'Madmax' Gibson has been approached to play King Jan Sobieski in an epic movie about the 1683 Siege of Vienna.

Wroclaw-based producer Mariusz Bielak would like Gibson to both star in and direct the picture, and he is optimistic that the Australian maverick will come on board:

'All the signs show that he is interested in this project and its theme', Bielak was quoted as saying in Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza. "It's his cup of tea.'

The film, which has a working title of Victoria (The Victory), is being billed as the most lavish Polish film of all time, with predicted costs running to 120 million zl. That's six times more costly than 'Quo Vadis', which currently holds the national record.

The script has already been completed by celebrated screenwriter Cezary Harasimowicz. The writer became transfixed by the material, and he promises heady sub-plots involving spies, intrigue and of course, the oft-chronicled romance between Sobieski and his French Queen:

'Jan III Sobieski was a charismatic figure' Harasimowicz told GW .' He was a great strategist, a phenomenal knight, and to cap it all, head over heels in love with his wife. This is the kind of figure that Mel Gibson played in 'Braveheart'. But this is a less tragic role - Sobieski triumphed.'

Polish talkboards reveal that Mel Gibson is not universally supported as the man who would be king. One site has launched a thread entitled 'SAY NO TO MEL GIBSON AS JAN SOBIESKI!!!! NO!!' Those logging on have wryly voiced their excitement at watching 'the best comedy of the year.'

Although devotees of Polish history see little resemblance between Gibbo and the portly Polish King, realists concur that Gibson is indeed a figure who could make the project a salable quantity. That said, they would prefer to see Gibson stay behind the camera, rather than parade in front of it.

The Siege of Vienna is regarded by historians as a turning point in European History. The Catholic Alliance - led by the Polish King - saw off the Turkish threat to Central Europe.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in Poland in 2008. Watch this space for more info!

[Lukasz]

Mel should direct but not act, with Polish and Austrian unknowns playing the leads, and all dialogue in Polish, German and Turkish.

Yes this is key to success, this is why I enjoyed to watch “Apocalipso”. Mel is quite independent from Hollywood, he is the right man to do it.

[mware]

What Woman Want was tame but I can't think of any others off the top of my head.

He is a brillant director but as you said the his work now is very close to violent porn.

[ReveBM]

By the way, I am not criticizing a movie about the Siege of Vienna per se, it sounds interesting...it's Mel that is becoming the distraction.

[MinorityRepublican]

He was in a chick flick six years ago, I believe. Forgot the name of the movie though.

[Phsstpok]

They should make this film and also make one about Charles Martel, who turned back the Muslim hordes at Tours in 732 (call this movie The Hammer). They should also make a film about Ferdiand the III (call this one El Santo) and the defeat of the last Muslim kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula.

All three films should concentrate on the fact that we didn't go looking for the Muslims to fight them, that they invaded Christian lands and forced the inhabitants to either convert or die. And it should always be emphasized that this conquest included the Holy Lands and all of the "Uma" that borders the Mediterranean. The propaganda that is still being pushed about the Crusades, things like that awful anti-Christian pro-Muslim movie Kingdom of Heaven, is truly obscene.

We've been fighting these monsters for almost 1400 years.  Let's drive them back to their own homeland, the Arabian Peninsula.  They can practice their death cult there to their hearts content and just leave the rest of us alone.

[Grzegorz 246]

"with predicted costs running to 120 million zl."

Wouldn't Mel alone charge as much ?

[ansel12]

"He was in a chick flick six years ago, I believe. Forgot the name of the movie though."





"What women want" Mel isn't very good at humor, but he is excellent in heroic epics.

I would sure look forward to this movie, if he accepts.

[PzLdr]

Actually, it's true. During the siege of Vienna, a baker within the city walls heard the sounds of Turkish troops undermining the walls [they'd dig tunnels and/or place gunpowder under a wall section to collapse it]. The baker notified the defenders, who launched a counter mining operation and saved the wall. For his deed, the baker was given the exclusive right to make a product to commemorate his deed - what is now called a croissant - made in the shape of the Turkish [and Islamic] crescent.

[PzLdr]

If she is, can I get a bit part as her camp bed?

[PzLdr]

I vote for a film about Hulegu's massacre of the Assasins, and destruction of the Abbasid Caliphate...along with Bagdhad.

[paudio]

Thank you for a richer description of what happened.

[snippy_about_it]

Sobieski had what it takes to fight terrorism.

[Ciexyz]

Mel's future may lie in working abroad instead of in the US and Hollywood.

[Bartekz]

Polish Winged Hussars in action !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eU2BtQpJqk&mode=related&search=

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I have read the same story about croissant. Also, the reason that Vienna has such good coffee was due to all the captured Turkish coffee, that the Austrians grew to love.

[outofspace]

It will be a great story how Polish forces defend Europe from muslim domination

[Rome2000]

Gibsons movies have a ridiculous amount of violence in them, Braveheart was a gore fest and Apocalypto was pretty much obscene.

Love Mel Gibson movies.