While we’re on the topic of the second anniversary of The Passion of the Christ: I don’t know about the accuracy of this report, but I’m going to treat it as a rumor until I see something in the trade press, but this Medjugorje blog says Mel Gibson is visiting Medjugorje to make a movie about Marian apparitions.
Mel Gibson, the Hollywood actor and film producer, is due to visit Medjugorje in February to begin work on a new film based on the apparitions and messages of Our Lady. Gibson, who directed, The Passion of Christ, is thought to have been influenced by actor Jim Caviezel, a frequent visitor to the Shrine with his wife, Kerri (below). Commenting on the documentary film, Fr Jozo Zovko said it will be a spiritual story, not a movie about miracles and extraordinary events. The former pastor of the Medjugorje parish also had some input to Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of Christ. Lead actor Jim Caviezel spent 10 days with the Franciscan priest to help prepare for the role as Jesus. At that time the Resurrection scene was not part of the film, but was included at Fr Jozo’s suggestion.
This is also the first I’ve heard about Caviezel’s Medjurgorje connections. A lot has been said and written about Gibson and future Catholic-related films since the success of The Passion, much of it speculation, rumor, or just flights of fancy. Still, it’s worth keeping an ear to the ground.
[Thanks to Mark for the link.]Update: The post at that link above has been taken down and replaced by a short message that an “update” will be posted later.
Update 2: That blog is now saying that two separate stories got conflated. Gibson is going to Medjugorje and a screenwriter is writing a movie script, but Gibson has nothing to do with the script. Clears that up I guess.
Yeah, in fact Jim even previewed “The Passion” for Mother’s Village in Medj – the village established for the orphans of the war which is mostly sponsored by the pilgrims from all over the world. An interesting interview with Jim and wife re: their involvement with Medj.:
http://www.medjugorje.hr/int Caviezel ENG.htm
or … http://kjbbn.net/interview jim and kerri caviezel.htm
You can’t put spaces in URLs. Replace them with “(percentage sign)20”
It would be better if the people putting up the site avoided using spaces.
Oh, yeah, he’s been into it for some time.
I got an e-mail from a Catholic site annoucning that Mel Gibson was going to Medjugorje in February. Well, tomorrow is the last day of the month and no-one’s seen him yet so I don’t put much store into these rumors.
No rush, these “apparitions” have been going on for over 20 years so he’s got time to make his movie. I wonder what Papa Gibson thinks of this.
Is this the same info?? This one states “is visiting” and dated today.
Mel Gibson Begins New Film in Medjugorje
MEDJUGORJE – February 27, 2006 – Mel Gibson, the Hollywood actor and film producer, is visiting Medjugorje to begin work on a new film based on the apparitions and messages of Our Lady. Gibson, who directed, The Passion of Christ, is thought to have been influenced by actor Jim Caviezel, a frequent visitor to the Shrine with his wife, Kerri (see picture).
Commenting on the documentary film, Fr Jozo Zovko said it will be a spiritual story, not a movie about miracles and extraordinary events.
The former pastor of the Medjugorje parish also had some input to Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of Christ. Lead actor Jim Caviezel spent 10 days with the Franciscan priest to help prepare for the role as Jesus. At that time the Resurrection scene was not part of the film, but was included at Fr Jozo’s suggestion.
Film writer Carol Cook recently spent two months in Siroki Brijeg (Fr Jozo’s parish) and Medjugorje preparing the script for this latest Mel Gibson production before returning to the United States. She has a personal interest in Medjugorje after travelling there soon after witnessing and losing friends in the 9/11 disaster in 2001. More recently, she attended a retreat given by Fr Jozo last October.
This is not the first time Hollywood has turned its spotlight on Medjugorje. In the mid-90’s Martin Sheen, Morgan Fairchild and Michael Yorke starred in the film Gospa, directed by Jakov Sedlara.
Isn’t that the same story posted on the blog dom linked to (and has now been taken down)? Or did you get that from a different source, ChrisK?
The only movie Mel has admitted he is working on right now is Apocalypto:
http://apocalypto.movies.go.com/
I believe the one Dom cited was dated Feb. 25th. The other one I found is dated Feb. 27th from
http://www.queenofpeace.ca/NEWS-8.htm#Mel_Gibson
okay, thank you.
Well, now, here’s a little more to add to the confusion:
http://crownofstars.blogspot.com/