Ali
Not one to ever colour within the lines, Mel Gibson has spoken out about this dislike for his latest film, “The Professor and the Madman”.
The “Lethal Weapon” and “Dragged Across Concrete” actor feels the version of the film we’ll see on screen is not the version he signed up for.
Gibson and director Farhad Safinia took on Voltage Pictures, the film’s distributor, in court recently and though a settlement was reached, the actor and filmmaker said he’s not happy with the results.
“As the settlement details are confidential, I will not be commenting but I would like to set the record straight as a number of articles have been released that are factually inaccurate,” the actor told Deadline following the April 2 settlement between Gibson’s Icon Productions and the Nicolas Chartier-run Voltage that was unveiled in Los Angeles Superior Court.
“First, neither Farhad Safinia nor I ever walked off of the set, or cause the film to ever go over budget,” says Gibson, who co-stars opposite Sean Penn in the film, due for release in May via Vertical Entertainment.
“Second, as partners in Icon Productions, Bruce Davey and I are huge fans of Simon Winchester’s best-selling book on which the script was based and worked for 20 years to bring this amazing story to the screen,” Gibson continues.
“This was a labor of love for the entire creative team, and it is unfortunate for all concerned that this film was never finished as written,” Gibson declared. “I regret that this film will never be seen as it was meant to be. Making it was never about money for Icon, it was about bringing this amazing story to the big screen. Sadly that has not happened in the way it could have.”
“The Voltage version of this film is a bitter disappointment to me,” the actor concluded.
Icon Pictures had sued Voltage, whose other credits include ”Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile” and “Once Upon a Time in Venice” , in July 2017 claiming the shingle had broken their contract by refusing to allow the film’s director to complete the film. The studio claimed that Gibson and Safinia walked off the film when they weren’t given permission to shoot at Oxford, due to the costs of doing so.
The full statement from Gibson is below :
As the settlement details are confidential, I will not be commenting but I would like to set the record straight as a number of articles have been released that are factually inaccurate.
First, neither Farhad Safinia nor I ever walked off of the set, or cause the film to ever go over budget.
As a co-writer and first time director, Farhad Safinia brought The Professor and the Madman to life while being a consummate professional and at great personal expense. His devotion was represented in his work on this feature as well as in his past accomplishments on Apocalypto and Boss.
Second, as partners in Icon Productions, Bruce Davey and I are huge fans of Simon Winchester’s best-selling book on which the script was based and worked for 20 years to bring this amazing story to the screen.
This was a labor of love for the entire creative team, and it is unfortunate for all concerned that this film was never finished as written.
Over the last two years, we have doggedly tried to film essential scenes in Oxford (which makes sense for a film about the Oxford English Dictionary!). Apparently, it was not meant to be: the shooting script was not completely shot. Therefore, I did not get the opportunity to choose a final cut, and cannot support the film.
Our only objectives were to tell a great story and to showcase the talent of Farhad Safinia who is one of the most talented writers and directors I have worked with. It is my hope that one day the world gets to see all he has to offer.
I regret that this film will never be seen as it was meant to be. Making it was never about money for Icon, it was about bringing this amazing story to the big screen. Sadly that has not happened in the way it could have. The Voltage version of this film is a bitter disappointment to me.
Gibson’s next films, “Boss Level”, “War Pigs”,”Waldo”, “Black Flies”, “Every Other Weekend” and “Lethal Weapon 5”, will hopefully be more positive experiences.
“The Professor and the Madman”, originally due for release in 2017, hits theaters May 10.
